Dental prosthesis with multi-section infrastructure and method for replacement of teeth

ABSTRACT

An improved dental prosthesis for replacing a tooth or teeth in an edentulous space in a patient&#39;s mouth either adjacent to existing teeth or between a first tooth anterior of and a second tooth posterior of the edentulous space which tooth or teeth are prepared with occlusal mounting grooves and where indicated indentations on the respective buccal and lingual proximals of the same tooth or teeth for receiving said dental prosthesis; has multi-section infrastructure for fabricating the dental prosthesis which includes, a main support bar or beam having a sized and shaped center section and at least one connecting end for fastening the main support bar on the tooth or teeth adjacent the edentulous space, the connecting end or ends has a predetermined shape, material and is sized to permit adjustment thereof as a function of the mesial-distal length of the edentulous space and the relative position of the tooth or teeth adjacent the edentulous space, secondary support means operatively connected to the main support means includes, longitudinally extending side grooves formed on the buccal and lingual sides of the center section, and side buttresses are positioned and connected in the respective side grooves. Optionally, a generally U-shaped pontic clip is adjustably positioned in vertically disposed grooves on the center section to adjust the occlusal surface of the main support bar relative the gingiva of the edentulous space.

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No.08/881,027 filed Jun. 23, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,907.

This invention relates generally to dental prostheses and moreparticularly to a dental prosthesis having multi-section infrastructureto strengthen the dental prosthesis and to provide a simple, relativelylow cost, improved fixed bridge and method for the replacement of atooth or teeth in an edentulous space adjacent to or between existingteeth in a patient's mouth.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,713,005 and 4,775,320 disclose a substantial portion ofthe existing prior art for forming a dental prosthesis and the usethereof for the replacement of a pontic or pontics in an edentulousspace or spaces adjacent to or between the teeth in a patient's mouth.

These patents and other patents which they identify disclose dentalprostheses using longitudinally extending bridge bars affixed generallyinto the occlusal surfaces in the patient's teeth adjacent to theedentulous space, as the main support for the pontic or pontics to fillthe edentulous space or spaces adjacent to or between the patient'steeth.

The purpose and object of all these prior art fixed bridge ponticreplacement assemblies and methods are designed to simplify theprocedures for the Dentist to replace missing teeth, reduce the timerequired for accomplishing such replacement and the cost of such dentalprosthesis to the patient.

Thus, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,713,005 and 4,775,320, an improved dentalprosthesis and method for fabricating the pontic or pontics forreplacement of a tooth or teeth in an edentulous space disposed eitheradjacent to an existing tooth or between existing teeth, utilizes alongitudinally extending bridge bar having at least one connectingmember or end which is fixedly mounted in groves cut in the occlusalsurface of the adjacent existing teeth, and a centrally located boss onwhich a pontic base is adjustably and operatively connected.

When this bridge bar, boss and pontic base are in position in theocclusal grooves in the adjacent existing tooth or teeth in respect ofthe edentulous space adjacent to or between the patient's teeth and thepontic base has been properly adjusted relative to the occlusal surfaceof the gum line in the edentulous space, the pontic or pontics, whenformed about the bridge bar, centrally located boss and pontic base inaccordance with the method as further disclosed therein, will lightlytouch the occlusal surface of the gum with the polished outer surface ofthe pontic base.

Two methods are described in U.S. patents '005 and '320 for fabricatingthe dental prosthesis with the pontic or pontics to provide thereplacement tooth or teeth for the edentulous space in the patient'smouth. One method establishes the dental prosthesis with the ponticreplacement thereon by “in situ” procedures in the patient's mouth. Theother method utilizes a suitable model of the edentulous space and theassociated tooth or teeth, which model is used exteriorly of thepatient's mouth to establish the dental prosthesis having a pontic orpontics. The dental prosthesis so formed on the models are thentransferred into the patient's mouth, and then the dental prosthesis isfinished, set and polished.

The dental prosthesis and method in accordance with the presentinvention for the replacement of a tooth or teeth in an edentulous spaceadjacent to or between the tooth or teeth in a patient's mouth has animproved multi-section infrastructure which is critical because itenables the pontic or pontics formed thereon which span the edentulousspace to withstand the enormous vertical, horizontal and moreparticularly the rotational forces exerted on the teeth duringmastication, clenching of the jaws and nocturnal grinding of the teethwithout flexing or deforming.

This improved multi-section infrastructure consists generally of, alongitudinally extending main support bar having, a shaped and sizedcenter section, at least one connecting end or oppositely projectingconnecting ends for connecting the main support bar into the preparedocclusal surface or surfaces in the tooth or teeth adjacent to theedentulous space so the shaped and sized center section can be centeredin the edentulous space, and secondary support means such as spacedbuttresses operatively connected on opposite sides of the shaped andsized center section of the main support bar and disposed to engageindentations cut in the tooth or teeth in which the main support bar ismounted provide three points of contact to prevent torque or rotation ofthe dental prosthesis when it is in assembled position.

This shaped and sized center section in assembled position is in a planeslightly more gingival than the relative plane or planes of theconnecting end or ends of the main support bar. Thus, if the edentulousspace is in the lower jaw, the occlusal surface of the shaped and sizedcenter section is lower than connecting ends, and in the upper jaw theocclusal mid surface of the shaped and sized center section will besuperior to the connecting ends. Additionally, the actual position ofthe medial occlusal surface of the shaped and sized center section isalso a function of how deeply the preparations are drilled in theocclusal surface or surfaces and whether such respective preparationsare equal in depth from the respective occlusal surfaces of the tooth orteeth to which the shaped and sized center section is connected. Thelength of the connecting end or the oppositely extending connecting endsare adjustable by grinding or by cutting. The angles of the connectingand/or the oppositely extending connecting ends are adjustable with asimple pliers to accommodate for various differences and degrees oftilting of the supporting tooth or teeth and for relative curvatures atvarious sections of the supporting teeth in a patient's mouth.

As also will be clear to those skilled in the art from the descriptionof the various species of the invention, the width and height of theenlarged shaped and sized center section will depend on the size andlocation of the edentulous space or spaces within the dental arch wherea pontic or pontics is replacing missing teeth in a patient's mouth.

Additionally, the occlusal surface of the shaped and sized centersection may also have a centrally disposed depression, insert orhollowed out portion so that in the formation of the pontic or ponticson the multi-section infrastructure, composite deposited or formed onthe associated occlusal surface of the formed pontic will have an extrathickness at the point where it meets the opposing cusp of the oppositeupper or lower teeth particularly during a chewing function so that suchthicker or heavier composite is better able to withstand pressureexerted on such pontic or pontics during mastication, clenching of thejaws and nocturnal grinding of the teeth.

The secondary support section is operatively connected to the enlargedshaped and sized center section of the main support bar. In theillustrated embodiments of the multi-section infrastructure, it consistsof coacting and associated buccal and lingual side buttresses, soconnected in the main support bar that it enables the improved dentalprosthesis formed from such multi-section infrastructure in accordancewith the present invention to be affixed into suitable shaped cuts inthe occlusal surface and into indentations in the mesial-buccal anddistal buccal and mesial-lingual and distal lingual proximal sides ofthe tooth or teeth adjacent to the edentulous space in which the ponticor pontic will be mounted or positioned. This three-point contactarrangement provides an extremely important anti-torque component to thedental prosthesis which prevents rotation around the longitudinal ormesial-distal axis of the dental prosthesis in assembled position.

In another aspect, the secondary support section is operativelyconnected to the enlarged shaped and sized center section of the mainsupport bar by a buccal groove and a lingual groove which are associatedand coact to receive the respective buccal and lingual side buttresses.The buccal groove and lingual groove respectively have a superior borderand an inferior border in spaced relation to each other, and the bordersare either parallel to each other and relative to the occlusal surfaceor longitudinal line of the given dental prosthesis.

It is another aspect of the secondary support section that the superiorborder and inferior border of the respective buccal groove and lingualgroove formed on opposite sides of the enlarged shaped and sized centersection of the main support bar may also be disposed at an angle to theocclusal surface of the center section or to the longitudinal line ofthe given dental prosthesis. Further, these borders are either parallelto each other, or the inferior border may diverge to establish a smalleror wider spaced relation between the superior and inferior borders asmay be required to adjust the buccal buttress and lingual buttress whenthe dental prosthesis is connected into assembled position to replacethe tooth or teeth in the edentulous space in the patient's mouth.

Additionally, in another aspect of the improved multi-sectioninfrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention, a U-shaped pontic clip can be connected to theenlarged shaped center section of the main support bar to permitrelative occluso-gingival adjustability of the main support bar in thepreparations in the occlusal surfaces of the tooth or teeth adjacent tothe edentulous space so the polished bottom of the U-shaped pontic clipin assembled position in the formed dental prosthesis will rest on thegingival surface of the gums in the edentulous space.

Additionally, in another and still further aspect of the improvedmulti-section infrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention, the multi-section infrastructureconsists generally of a longitudinally extending main support barhaving, a shaped and sized center section, at least one connecting endor oppositely projecting connecting ends for connecting the main supportbar into the prepared occlusal surface or surfaces in the tooth or teethadjacent to the edentulous space so the shaped and sized center sectioncan be centered in the edentulous space, a U-shaped pontic clip can beconnected to the shaped and sized center section of the main support barto permit occluso-gingival adaptability of the main support bar relativethe preparations in the occlusal surface or surfaces in the tooth orteeth adjacent to the edentulous space so the polished bottom of theU-shaped pontic clip will rest on the gingival surface of the gum in theedentulous space, and the combination thereof with a secondary supportmeans connected to the shaped and sized center section to provide ananti-torque component to the dental prosthesis formed from suchmulti-section infrastructure.

Various embodiments for achieving these improved multi-sectioninfrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention are hereinafter described.

The present invention also provides the Dentist with at least twoimproved and optional general methods for structuring, forming andfabricating such dental prosthesis for filling the edentulous space in agiven patient's mouth. The first consists of an “in situ” techniquewhich is performed directly in the patient's mouth. The second is anindirect method exterior of the patient's mouth performed on a model ofthe edentulous space and the adjacent supporting tooth or teeth of thegiven patient.

Additionally, in another and still further aspect of the improvedindirect method for forming a dental prosthesis exterior of thepatient's mouth, the use of removable “shims” or “spacers” to preventcement or composite from filling the buccal and lingual grooves and thetransverse connecting pin holes is used during the formation of thereplacement pontic or pontics from the cement, composite or equallypermanent toothlike materials for the preparatory or preliminary dentalprostheses to be transferred and fixed in the edentulous space in thepatient's mouth.

The use of the various improved multi-section infrastructures and theformation of the pontic replacement thereon by any of these methods inaccordance with the present invention enables the Dentist to providedental prostheses with an anti-torque component and/or an adjustablehygienic base having a pontic or pontics for replacing the lost tooth orteeth in the edentulous space adjacent to a tooth or between teeth inthe patient's mouth in a relatively short period of time at a relativelylow cost.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention covers an improved dental prosthesis forreplacing a tooth or teeth in an edentulous space in a patient's mouthwhich has a multi-section infrastructure including, a longitudinallyextending main support bar, said main support bar having a shaped andsized center section and at least one connecting means for connectingthe main support bar to at least one of the supporting teeth in thepatient's mouth adjacent the edentulous space so that the shaped andsized center section is centered in the edentulous space, and secondarysupport means operatively connected to the enlarged center section toprevent rotation of the main support bar when the formed dentalprosthesis is in assembled position in the edentulous space.

In another aspect of the present invention, an improved dentalprosthesis for replacing a tooth or teeth in an edentulous space in thepatient's mouth includes a multi-section infrastructure having, alongitudinally extending main support bar, the main support bar has ashaped and sized center section and at least one connecting means forconnecting the main support bar to the at least one supporting tooth inthe patient's mouth for centering the shaped and sized center section inthe edentulous space, and an adjustable U-shaped pontic clip isconnectable to the shaped and sized center section of the main supportbar to permit occluso-gingival adjustability of the main support barrelative the preparations in the occlusal surfaces of the tooth or teethadjacent to the edentulous space so the polished bottom of the U-shapedpontic clip in assembled position in the formed dental prosthesis restson the gingival surface of the gum in the edentulous space.

In still another aspect of the improved dental prosthesis for replacinga tooth or teeth in an edentulous space in the patient's mouth, amulti-section infrastructure includes, a longitudinally extending mainsupport bar having a shaped and sized center section and at least oneconnecting means for connecting the main support bar to the at least onesupporting tooth in the patient's mouth for centering the shaped andsized center section in the edentulous space, an adjustable U-shapedclip with a highly polished base for hygienic purposes is slidablyconnectable to the shaped and sized center section for adjustablypositioning the dental prosthesis in assembled position in theedentulous space to relate the occlusal surface of the gingiva in theedentulous space to the occlusal surface of the main support bar when inassembled position and secondary support means operatively connected tothe shaped and sized center section to prevent rotation of themulti-section infrastructure when the formed dental prosthesis is inassembled position in the edentulous space.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved dental prosthesis and method for replacing a pontic or ponticsin an edentulous space adjacent to a tooth or between teeth in apatient's mouth which can be simply and accurately adjusted and on whichthe replacement pontic or pontics can be fabricated by the Dentisteither “in situ” or exteriorly on a stone cast model of the edentulousspace and the adjacent existing prepared teeth in the patient's mouth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an “in situ” ordirect method for assembling, fitting and finishing an improvedmulti-section infrastructure in an edentulous space in a patient's mouthto form a dental prosthesis having at least one pontic thereon forreplacing a tooth or teeth in the edentulous space in the patient'smouth.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anindirect method utilizing a cast model of the edentulous space in thepatient's mouth, at a point exterior of the patient's mouth, forassembling, fitting and preliminarily finishing the tooth or teethformed from cement, composite or similar hard, toothlike polymericmaterials on the improved multi-section infrastructure which can then bemoved and fitted directly into the edentulous space in the patient'smouth and finished in assembled position therein.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide in anindirect method utilizing a cast model of the edentulous space in thepatient's mouth, at a point exterior thereof, “shims or spacers” forpreventing cement or composite from filling the buccal and lingualgrooves and the transverse connecting pin holes during the fabricationof the preparatory or preliminary dental prosthesis before it istransferred to assemble and fix the dental prosthesis in the patient'smouth.

The above and other objects, features and advantages will becomeapparent from the detailed description of the invention which followswhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a multi-sectioninfrastructure or assembly for a dental prosthesis in accordance withthe present invention with the respective side buttresses also inexploded view as shown by the phantomized lines,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the multi-section infrastructure orassembly for a dental prosthesis shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the multi-section infrastructure orassembly for a dental prosthesis shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the multi-section infrastructure orassembly for a dental prosthesis shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure orassembly for a dental prosthesis shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4,

FIG. 6 is a back end view of the multi-section infrastructure orassembly for a dental prosthesis shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4,

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section taken on line 7—7 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-section taken on line 8—8 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the multi-sectioninfrastructure for a dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention which differs from the multi-section infrastructure shown inFIGS. 1 to 8, by reason of two spaced connecting pins for connecting therespective side buttresses shown in exploded view by the phantomizedlines into assembled position,

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of themulti-section infrastructure shown in FIG. 9 partly broken away invertical section,

FIG. 11 is a cross-section of another embodiment of the multi-sectioninfrastructure which is similar to the cross-section shown at FIG. 7 andshows one geometric shape for the connecting pin for the sidebuttresses,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the multi-sectioninfrastructure for a dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention with the respective side buttresses exploded as shown by thephantomized lines, with means for orienting the respective sidebuttresses,

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the multi-section infrastructurefor a dental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention asshown in FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the multi-section infrastructureshown in FIGS. 12 and 13 with the buccal side buttress removed,

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of another form of multi-sectioninfrastructure for a dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention, with another means for orienting the respective sidebuttresses,

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the multi-section infrastructureshown in FIG. 15 with the buccal and lingual side buttresses removed,

FIG. 17 is a front end view of another embodiment of the multi-sectioninfrastructure showing the buccal and lingual grooves having a keystoneshape for holding the buccal buttress and lingual buttress in assembledposition without the need for a transverse connecting pin,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a multi-sectioninfrastructure for a dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention using one embodiment of an adjustable pontic clip,

FIG. 19 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis shown in FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 is a back end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis shown in FIG. 18,

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the multi-section infrastructure for thedental prosthesis shown in FIG. 18,

FIG. 21A is a bottom plan view of the multi-section infrastructure forthe dental prosthesis shown in FIG. 18,

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the shaped and sized main support barfor the multi-section infrastructure of the dental prosthesis shown inFIG. 18,

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the shaped and sized main support bar forthe multi-section infrastructure of the dental prosthesis shown in FIG.18,

FIG. 23A is an enlarged plan view of a fragment of the occlusal surfaceof the main support bar for the multi-section infrastructure shown atFIG. 18, showing the porosity created by acid etching, sand blasting orother means to rough the exterior surface of such main support bar andother elements of the multi-section infrastructure,

FIG. 24 is a cross-section taken on line 24—24 of FIG. 23,

FIG. 25 is a cross-section taken on line 25—25 of FIG. 23,

FIG. 25A is an enlarged side elevational view of a fragment of theocclusal surface of the main support bar for the multi-sectioninfrastructure shown at FIG. 18 showing the porosity created by acidetching, sand blasting or other means to roughen the exterior surface ofthe main support bar and other elements of such multi-sectioninfrastructure,

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the form of adjustable U-shaped ponticclip in the multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis asshown in FIG. 18,

FIG. 27 is a side view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIGS. 18 and26,

FIG. 28 is a front view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIGS. 18and 26,

FIG. 29 is a top view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIGS. 18 and26,

FIG. 30 is a bottom view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIGS. 18and 26,

FIG. 31 is a cross-section taken on lines 31—31 of FIG. 27,

FIG. 32 is an enlarged perspective view of still another embodiment of amulti-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis in accordance withthe present invention having an asymmetrical main support bar andadapted for use with another form of the U-shaped adjustable pontic clipand having positionable buccal and lingual side buttresses, also shownin exploded view in the phantomized lines,

FIG. 33 is a top plan view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIG. 32,

FIG. 34 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33,

FIG. 35 is a back end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33,

FIG. 36 is a top plan view of just the shaped main support section ofthe multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis as shown inFIGS. 32 and 33,

FIG. 37 is a side elevational view of just the shaped main supportsection of the multi-section infrastructure for the dental prosthesis asshown in FIGS. 32, 33 and 36 with the buccal buttress and the ponticclip removed to show the shaped transverse bore and the trapezoidalbuccal guide for the buccal buttress,

FIG. 38 is a front end view of just the shaped main support section ofthe multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis as shown inFIGS. 32, 33 and 36,

FIG. 39 is a back end view of just the shaped main support section ofthe multi-section infrastructure for the dental prosthesis as shown inFIGS. 32, 33 and 36,

FIG. 40 is a cross-section of just the shaped main support section takenon line 40—40 of FIG. 36, showing variations for the size and shape ofthe posterior transverse bore in dotted lines,

FIG. 41 is a cross-section of just the shaped main support section takenon line 41—41 of FIG. 36,

FIG. 42 is a cross-section of just the shaped main support section takenon line 42—42 of FIG. 36,

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of another form of the U-shaped ponticclip for a multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis as shownin FIG. 32,

FIG. 43A is a plan view of a shaped and sized metallic blank from whichthe U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIG. 43 is formed,

FIG. 44 is a side view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIG. 43,

FIG. 45 is a front view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIG. 43,

FIG. 46 is a top view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIG. 43,

FIG. 47 is a bottom view of the U-shaped pontic clip shown in FIG. 43,

FIG. 48 is a cross-section taken on lines 48—48 of FIG. 44,

FIG. 49 is an enlarged perspective view of still another embodiment of amulti-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis in accordance withthe present invention having an asymmetrical main support bar adaptedfor use with a U-shaped adjustable pontic clip and showing only a fullbuccal side buttress and partially sized lingual side buttresses inphantomized lines and exploded in solid lines,

FIG. 50 is a top plan view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIG. 49, showing the interrelation, ifany, between the lingual buttress and the anterior connecting end,

FIG. 51 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50,

FIG. 52 is a top plan view of just the shaped main support section ofthe multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis as shown inFIGS. 49 and 50,

FIG. 53 is a side elevational view of just the shaped main supportsection of the multi-section infrastructure for the dental prosthesis asshown in FIGS. 49, 50 and 52 with the lingual buttress and the ponticclip removed to show the shaped transverse bore,

FIG. 54 is a cross-section of just the shaped main support section takenon line 54—54 of FIG. 52,

FIG. 55 is a cross-section of just the shaped main support section takenon line 55—55 of FIG. 52,

FIG. 56 is a cross-section of just the shaped main support section takenon line 56—56 of FIG. 52,

FIG. 57 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of amulti-section infrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention showing a modified form of theshaped and sized main support bar,

FIG. 58 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 57,

FIG. 59 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 57 and 58,

FIG. 60 is a back end view of the main support bar with the pontic clipand the buccal and lingual side buttresses in assembled position,

FIG. 61 is a side view of just the main support bar,

FIG. 62 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of amulti-section infrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention showing a further modified form ofthe shaped and sized main support bar,

FIG. 63 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 62,

FIG. 64 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 62 and 63,

FIG. 65 is a side view of just the main support bar with the sidebuttress removed,

FIG. 66 is a front end view of the main support bar shown in FIG. 65,

FIG. 67 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of amulti-section infrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention showing a still further modifiedform of the main support bar and the anterior and posterior connectingends,

FIG. 68 is a top plan view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention shown in FIG.67,

FIG. 69 is a front end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68,

FIG. 70 is a back end view of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis as shown in FIGS. 67, 68 and 69,

FIG. 71 is a side elevational view of the multi-section infrastructurefor a dental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention shownin FIGS. 67, 68, 69 and 70,

FIG. 72 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the posteriorteeth in a patient's mouth showing an edentulous space with a firsttooth disposed adjacent the anterior end of the edentulous space and asecond tooth disposed adjacent the posterior end of the edentulous spaceand wherein the respective first tooth and second tooth have beenprepared to provide the occlusal mounting grooves for the oppositelydisposed and spaced anterior and posterior connecting ends on the mainsupport means for the dental prosthesis and side indentations for theends of the buccal and lingual buttresses of the embodiment of themulti-section infrastructure or assembly for a dental prosthesis asshown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings,

FIG. 73 is an enlarged top perspective view of the edentulous space inthe posterior teeth as shown in FIG. 72 with the elements of themulti-section infrastructure or assembly for a dental prosthesis asshown in FIGS. 18 to 25 or FIGS. 57 to 62 of the drawings assembled andpositioned in the edentulous space with the connecting ends for the mainsupport bar extending into the occlusal mounting grooves and the buccaland lingual side buttresses extending into the side indentations in thefirst tooth and second tooth at the respective anterior and posteriorends of the edentulous space,

FIG. 74 is an enlarged perspective view of the formed dental prosthesisin accordance with the present invention with a single pontic thereonfixed into assembled position in the patient's teeth disposed onopposite sides and adjacent to the edentulous space,

FIG. 75 is an enlarged perspective and exploded view of the main supportbar or beam for the multi-section infrastructure shown in FIGS. 32 to 48of the drawings disposed for operative association with a buccal sideshim and lingual side shim, used in the indirect method of ponticcreations in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 76 is a top plan view of the main support bar or beam for themulti-section infrastructure shown in FIGS. 32 to 48 with the buccalside shim and lingual side shim in assembled position,

FIG. 77 is a front view of the main support bar or beam for themulti-section infrastructure shown in FIGS. 32 to 48 with the buccalside shim and lingual side shim in assembled position,

FIG. 78 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 72 showing,however, a stone cast model of the portion of the posterior teeth in apatient's mouth having an edentulous space with a first tooth disposedadjacent the anterior end of the edentulous space and second toothdisposed adjacent the posterior end of the edentulous space wherein therespective first tooth and second tooth have been prepared to providethe occlusal grooves and mounting proximal grooves for the oppositelydisposed and spaced connecting ends and side buttresses of theinfrastructure for the dental prosthesis shown in FIGS. 18 to 31 andFIGS. 32 to 48 of the drawings,

FIG. 79 is a top plan view of the stone cast model of the edentulousspace in the patient's mouth as shown in FIG. 78 with the embodiment fora multi-section infrastructure as shown in FIGS. 32 to 48 of thedrawings mounted with the connecting ends of the main support bar inassembled position in the preparation in the respective occlusalsurfaces of the anterior and posterior teeth adjacent to the edentulousspace which is to receive the pontic or pontics replacement and theremovable buccal side shim and lingual side shim in position before thedental prosthesis is formed on the cast model,

FIG. 80 is the same view as FIG. 79 showing the preliminary formation ofthe dental prosthesis on the cast model before the dental prosthesiswith the buccal and lingual side shims thereon is removed from the stonecast model for placement into the edentulous space in the patient'smouth,

FIG. 81 is an enlarged perspective view of the preliminarily formeddental prosthesis where the respective buccal side shim and lingual sideshim have been removed to prepare the dental prosthesis for receivingthe buccal and lingual buttresses and for fitting into assembledposition in the patient's mouth,

FIG. 82 is a side elevational view of the preliminarily formed dentalprosthesis as shown in FIGS. 80 and 81 with the buccal and lingual sideshims removed, and

FIG. 83 is a perspective view of the dental prosthesis shown in FIGS. 75to 82 in assembled position in the patient's mouth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings show one form ofmulti-section infrastructure generally designated 10 for a dentalprosthesis in accordance with the present invention, for replacing atleast one tooth in an edentulous space in a patient's mouth where theedentulous space is located between a first tooth at the anterior endand a second tooth at the posterior end of the edentulous space.

The multi-section infrastructure 10 consists of a main support bar orbeam generally designated 11 having, an enlarged center section 12, andcontinuous therewith an anterior connecting end 13 or ends and aposterior connecting end 14 or ends for connecting the main supportsection 11 to occlusal preparations in the respective first tooth on theanterior end of the edentulous space and the second tooth on theposterior end of the edentulous space.

While reference has been made to connecting ends, the embodiments of theinvention will be illustrated and described in terms of a single memberanterior and posterior connecting ends as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 andother FIGURES of the drawings. This is not by way of limitation becausethose skilled in the art will readily recognize that where the mainsupport bar or beam 11 has a multi-member or spaced multi-sections onthe connecting end that this design can best be used where the toothwidth will permit. Under this latter situation, a supplemental orsecondary supporting section or assembly coacting with the main supportbar or beam, hereinafter more fully described with respect to theinvention as disclosed herein, may be eliminated because suchmulti-member or spaced multi-section connecting end or ends may besufficient to meet or prevent the effect of torque caused by forcesexerted during the use of the dental prosthesis by the patient.

The relatively enlarged shaped and sized center section 12 iscommensurate with or is a function of the edentulous space in which atooth or teeth need to be replaced. In this illustrated embodiment thecenter section 12 adjacent the occlusal face or table is shaped in planview from the medial section to the respective anterior and posteriorconnecting ends 13 and 14 with oppositely extending tapering buccal andlingual sides as at 12 a and 12 b for the anterior end and 12 c and 12 dfor the posterior end so that the widest part of the central section isalong the medial transverse line of the central section 12 and thesection narrows generally uniformly in the respective anterior andposterior directions to provide sufficient space for forming the ponticor pontics on the multi-section infrastructure 10.

The anterior connecting end 13 is connected to the anterior end of thecentral section 12 and the posterior connecting end 14 is connected tothe posterior end of the central section 12. Further, at the point wherethe respective anterior connecting end 13 and posterior connecting end14 communicate and connect to the central section 12, the centralsection 12 is rounded as at 13 a and 13 b at the anterior end and 14 aand 14 b at the posterior end, all of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3 of the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 8 further show that the occlusal surface of the centralsection is provided with at least one hollow concave or indented sectionas at 12 f so that in the formation of the pontic or pontics, as thecase may be, the corresponding occlusal surface of the pontic or ponticsformed in the multi-section infrastructure 10 will have an increasedthickness of composite material over the occlusal surface of the centersection of the pontic or pontics and thus have the strength and supportnecessary to coact with the cusps on the opposing teeth.

The tapered side walls, rounded points of communication and the at leastone hollow concave or indented section 12 f, as above described,illustrate one preferred sized and shaped central section 12 for themain support bar or beam 11 of the multi-section infrastructure 10because it enables the pontic or pontics formed to withstand the forcesexerted with the coacting upper or lower teeth during mastication,clenching of the jaws and during night grinding of the teeth by thepatient. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize thatthe central section in plan view can have any desired shape such assquare, rectangular, oval, trapezoidal or even a customized irregularshape to meet the requirements for a given edentulous space withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Anterior connecting end 13 and posterior connecting end 14 for the mainsupport bar 12 extend respectively in assembled position in oppositedirections mesial-distally along and in assembled position in thegeneral longitudinal line of the teeth adjacent to or on opposite endsof the edentulous space in the patient's mouth so they can be connectedinto suitable occlusal preparations in such tooth or teeth.

While the anterior connecting end 13 and posterior connecting end 14 areshown in generally symmetrical planes, those skilled in the art willfind many varied conditions with respect to the supporting teeth thatwill require that the anterior connecting end 13 and posteriorconnecting end 14 be disposed in relatively non-symmetrical planes as isillustrated hereinafter in further embodiments of the present invention.The anterior connecting end 13 and posterior connecting end 14 may alsobe made of a malleable metal or other material which can be shaped bythe dentist or laboratory technician as may be required for a particularedentulous space.

Referring further to FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings, coacting with andconnected to the main support bar or section 11 is a supplementary orsecondary supporting section or assembly generally designated 15 whichincludes a buccal buttress 16 and a lingual buttress 17 respectivelypositioned on the buccal and lingual side of the shaped and sized centersection 12 and so spatially oriented and so connected with the mainsupport bar or beam 11 that in assembled position the secondary supportsection can also engage the same first and second teeth at therespective anterior and posterior ends of the edentulous space to whichthe main support bar or beam 11 is connected so as to form three pointsof contact which act to prevent rotation of the multi-sectioninfrastructure.

The spatial assembly of the main support bar and the supplemental orsecondary supporting section to provide three spaced supportingconnections for the multi-section infrastructure for the dentalprosthesis in accordance with this form of the invention is asignificant advance over prior art infrastructure because it serves asan anti-torque mechanism to eliminate or substantially reduce theproblem inherent in prior art fixed bridges to rotate during chewing,clenching of the teeth and the night grinding of teeth which are commonacts that natural teeth and hence the replacement pontics must be ableto withstand.

This broad concept is applicable to all embodiments of the inventionwhich include such secondary supporting means as the buccal and lingualbuttresses above described. Some embodiments, however, must vary becauseof space requirements or absence of structure on the supporting tooth toenable, for example, the lingual buttress to be attached at either orboth ends in a given supporting tooth.

Main supporting bar or section 11 for the multi-section infrastructure10 with its shaped and sized center section 12, the buttresses and anyother element is preferably cast out of a suitable metallic materialsuch as a stainless steel alloy, gold alloy, titanium alloy, silveralloy, platinum alloy or other metal alloys which will lend strength tothe multi-section infrastructure for the dental prosthesis in accordancewith the present invention. Additionally, however, the multi-sectioninfrastructure 10 and all the elements thereof may be made of othermaterials such as ceramics, composites, plastics or synthetic polymershaving adequate physical properties for the purposes and objects of theinfrastructure as herein disclosed.

During fabrication of the multi-section infrastructure, the main supportbar or section 11 and the buccal buttress 16 and lingual buttress 17 ofthe supplemental or secondary support section will be subjected toeither sandblasting with an appropriate grit of aluminum oxide, acidetching or subjected to similar or other types of treating procedures tocreate a desirable surface roughness for increasing the bonding surfacefor proper mechanical or chemical bonding of the composite, ceramic,plastic or polymer material used for forming and shaping the pontic orpontics during formation of the dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention.

To reduce stress, increase the strength of the various elements of theinfrastructure 10 the main support bar or section 11 and the secondarysupport section 15 will also be subjected to tumbling in any suitabletype of tumbling apparatus so that all the side edges will becomerounded and all sharp points and edges will be eliminated.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings, thelength of the shaped and sized center section 12 of the main support baror beam 11 is dimensioned for the fabrication of a single pontic toreplace a single tooth in an edentulous space between two other existingteeth in the posterior section of the teeth in a patient's mouth.

However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thelength of the enlarged shaped and sized center section 12 will be afunction of the size of the edentulous space, and the number of ponticsthat are needed to replace the tooth or teeth missing in the edentulousspace in the patient's mouth. For a single pontic replacement, theaverage length of an edentulous space will vary between 4 mm and 8 mm,and the block-like center section 12 of main support bar or beam 11 canbe easily sized for such limits. For a longer mesial-distal edentulousspace where two or more pontics may be needed to fill the edentulousspace, the enlarged block-like center section 12 can be modified and/ormanufactured with other sizes to meet these requirements.

Further, however, it will also be obvious to those skilled in the artthat there will be some average lengths for the block-like centersection 12 which can be applicable for almost all patients whethermissing one or two teeth and that the overall length of the main supportsection 11 can be accommodated and varied for a given edentulous spaceto be filled by grinding the main section or by cutting off a givenlength of the respective connecting ends 13 and 14 to enable theblock-like center section 12 to be positioned and centered relative agiven edentulous space during the fabrication of the dental prosthesisin accordance with the methods of the present invention.

The wide variations of the edentulous space or in the supporting toothor teeth from patients to patients can be met by providing the Dentistor lab technician forming a dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention with a kit containing a plurality of the variouselements grouped to meet the various average conditions that may be met.By selecting the desired elements, the Dentist or lab technician cancustomize the multi-section infrastructure as may be necessary to meetthe specific requirements of the edentulous space in which a pontic orpontics need to be replaced for a given patient.

By further reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the respective anterior connectingend 13 and posterior connecting end 14 are shown as disposed in generallongitudinal alignment with each other, however, not necessarily in thesame generally horizontal plane. This alignment will be a function ofthe position of the occlusal preparations or cut-outs formed in theocclusal surfaces of the anterior and posterior teeth on the oppositesides of the edentulous space. The enlarged center section 12 inassembled position extends between the respective anterior connectingend 13 and posterior connecting end 14 so that it is more gingival thanthe generally horizontal plane of the aligned connecting ends 13 and 14.Thus, if the prosthesis being formed is between the teeth in the upperjaw, the occlusal surface of the center section will be higher;conversely, in the lower jaw of the patient's mouth, the occlusalsurface of the center section will be lower. This structure for the mainsupport bar or section 11 and the hollow concave or indented section 12f in the occlusal surface of the central section 12 of main support bar11 will, in the creation, forming and shaping of the pontic or ponticsfrom the cement, composite or similar hard toothlike materials, enablethe given pontic or pontics being formed to have a thicker occlusalsection or layer of composite thereon which strengthens the highlystressed occlusal surface of the pontic or pontics against damage orfailure.

While the occlusal surface of the central section 11 has been shown withan indented section or hollow concave depression as at 12 f, for thepurposes and objects as above set forth, it will be clear that theocclusal surface may be flat, concave or convex, as may be necessary tocustomize the given multi-section infrastructure for a given dentalprosthesis without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The secondary support section generally designated 15 is established bya longitudinally extending groove 18 on the buccal side and alongitudinally extending groove 19 on the lingual side of the shaped andsized center section 12 in which respectively matching buccal buttress16 fits into the longitudinally extending buccal groove 18 on the buccalside of the block-like center section 12 and lingual buttress 17 fitsinto the longitudinally extending lingual groove 19 on the lingual sideof the block-like center section 12, all of which is shown in FIGS. 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the drawings.

The respective longitudinally extending buccal groove 18 is furthercharacterized by a first superior border 18 a and a first inferiorborder 18 b which are in spaced relation to each other. Similarly, thelongitudinally extending lingual groove 19 has a second superior border19 a and a second inferior border 19 b which are also in spaced relationto each other. The respective borders act to establish the width of thebuccal groove 18 and lingual groove 19 so that the buccal buttress 16and lingual buttress 17 can be moved as may be necessary when a givendental prosthesis is being assembled in an edentulous space in thepatient's mouth.

These respective first and second superior borders 18 a and 19 a and therespective first and second inferior borders 18 b and 19 b can also beoriented so that the respective buccal groove 18 and lingual groove 19will be disposed parallel to or at an angle to the occlusal surface ofthe center section, and the respective superior and inferior borders maydiverge, not necessarily uniformly, to provide a wide variety of spatialuniform widths or non-uniform widths at the anterior and posterior endsof the respective buccal groove 18 and lingual groove 19, all of whichis shown in the figures of the various embodiments of the invention asillustrated herein.

In this illustrated embodiment of the invention, the respective buccalgroove 18 and lingual groove 19 on the opposite sides of the block-likecenter section 12 are shown as sloped at an angle to the generallylongitudinal occlusal plane for the connecting ends 13 and 14 and themain support bar or beam 11. This is shown because in certain instancesthe posterior tooth adjacent the edentulous space tiltsmesial-gingivally forward much more than the anterior tooth tiltsdistally, in which case instead of being straight, the respective buccalgroove 18 and lingual groove 19 will be sloped to generally parallel theocclusal slope between the respective supporting teeth on the anteriorand posterior ends of the edentulous space. Effectively this willdispose the respective anterior and posterior ends of the buccalbuttress 16 and lingual buttress 17 for positioning into indentationsfor the supplemental support assembly in the mesial-proximal of theanterior supporting tooth and distal proximal of the posteriorsupporting tooth adjacent to the edentulous space in which the pontic orpontics are being used to replace a tooth or teeth in the patient'smouth, as hereinafter more fully described.

Conversely, where no such tilt is present between the anterior tooth andthe posterior tooth, the respective buccal groove and lingual groove maybe straight or horizontal to generally parallel the longitudinalocclusal plane or surface of the main support bar or beam 11 and itsassociated anterior connecting end 13 and posterior connecting 14.

Further, when the dental prosthesis is in assembled position, the mesialand distal ends of the respective buccal buttress 16 and lingualbuttress 17 will in assembled position be so disposed, in theindentations in the respective anterior and posterior supporting teethto provide good hygienic conditions for the patient in relation to thegingiva at the patient's gum line.

When the buccal buttress 16 and lingual buttress 17 are disposed inassembled position, the secondary support section 15 will serve tofurther strengthen the multi-section infrastructure of the dentalprosthesis in accordance with the present invention by providingtherewith a three point contact, which assembly acts to prevent or limitrotation or torque of the pontic or pontics around the longitudinal axisof the main support bar or beam 11.

When the main support bar or beam is fitted into the occlusal groovesprepared in the respective anterior and posterior teeth on the mesialand distal sides of the edentulous space, the buccal buttress 16 andlingual buttress 17 must be spatially oriented and adjusted for lengthby grinding or cutting off portions thereof on the respective anterioror posterior ends so that their respective opposite ends can be adaptedto fit into the operatively associated indentations in the adjacentmesial and distal proximal surfaces of these same teeth as will be morefully illustrated and described hereinafter in the methods for formingthe dental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention.

In order to hold the buccal buttress 16 and lingual buttress 17 inassembled position, the lingual buttress 17 is preferably formedintegrally with a connecting pin 20 which extends through a lingualconnecting pin opening 20 a in the lingual buttress 16 and has a head asat 20 b which is swedged to fix the connecting pin 20 at one end in thelingual buttress 17. Thus, when the lingual buttress 17 is positioned inthe lingual groove 19, the connecting pin 20 extends through a bore 21in the center section 12 transversely or generally normal to thelongitudinal line of the main support bar or beam 11 and into andthrough a buccal connecting pin opening 20 c in the buccal buttress 16positioned in the buccal groove 18. Connecting pin 20 will have a lengthgreater than the thickness or width of the shaped and sized centralsection 12 and will have at its tip a conical end shape to facilitateassembly through the buccal connecting pin opening 20 c so that aportion thereof as at 20 d can be ground or snapped off to the desiredlength for purposes of this assembly. The buccal connecting pin opening20 c has a larger diameter than the connecting pin 20 so that it easilypasses through this opening. The buccal buttress 16 and the connectingpin 20 will be held in this assembled position by the composite duringformation of the pontic on the multi-section infrastructure 10 of thedental prosthesis.

While the connecting pin 20 has been described as integral with thelingual buttress, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart that the connecting pin 20 can be made integral with the buccalbuttress or be an independent member connectable to the respectivebuccal and lingual buttresses without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

However, in the description hereinafter on the method of forming thedental prosthesis, it will be clear that in the assembly and positioningof the multi-section infrastructure, it will be easier and simpler forthe dentist to first assemble the lingual buttress 17 and thereafterconnect the buccal buttress 16 into assembled position because it iseasier for the dentist to access the buccal side of the patient's teeththan the lingual side.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE MULTI-SECTION INFRASTRUCTURE

In order to further overcome or prevent rotational conditions fromarising in the use of the dental prosthesis 10 in accordance with thepresent invention, various modifications of the multi-sectioninfrastructure are illustrated.

Thus, FIGS. 9 and 10 show a multi-section infrastructure 110 for adental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention wherein thelingual buttress 117 has two spaced connecting pins as at 120 a and 120b disposed to extend through mating bores, 121 a and 121 b in theenlarged block-like center section 112 for contact and operativeconnection with the buccal buttress 116. This further serves to limitrotation of the respective buccal buttress and lingual buttress inassembled position.

The multi-section infrastructure 110 is otherwise identical to the formof the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings and abovedescribed and also can be used to fabricate a dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows another form of the multi-section infrastructure for adental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention to overcomeany rotational effect during the use of the dental prosthesis in whichthe transversely disposed connecting pin 220 has some form of geometricshape such as a triangle which fits in a corresponding triangularlyshaped transverse bore as at 221. This is another mechanism which servesto limit rotation of the respective buccal buttress and lingual buttressin assembled position.

This form of the invention is otherwise identical with the form of theinvention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings and above described andtherefore also can be used to fabricate a dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention.

In FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 another form of the multi-section infrastructureis shown in which the respective buccal buttress 316 and lingualbuttress 317 are modified so that the medial section has a definedasymmetric shape as at 316 a for the buccal buttress 316 and 317 a forthe lingual buttress 317 which fit or engage with a corresponding ormating shaped groove 318 a in the central section of the buccal groove318. A mating shaped groove in the central section of the lingual groove319, not shown, is similarly provided. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that other types of asymmetric shapes may be used, and allsuch shapes tend to limit rotation of the respective buccal buttress andlingual buttress in assembled position.

This multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis is otherwiseidentical to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of thedrawings and above described and can also be used for fabricating thedental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show another type of medially spaced and shaped sectionsfor the buccal and lingual buttresses. Only medially spaced and shapedsections 416 a and 416 b for the buccal buttress 416 are illustrated.This multi-section infrastructure has two spaced connecting pins as at420 a and 420 b which extend through transverse bores 421 a and 421 b.These shaped sections 416 a and 416 b on the buccal buttress 416 fitinto medially spaced mating grooves 418 a and 418 b as is shown only forthe buccal groove 418 in the enlarged block-like center section of thegiven main support member bar or beam 411 for this form of themulti-section infrastructure 410 for a dental prosthesis in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a still further modification for a multi-sectioninfrastructure generally designated 511 which, as shown in this frontend view, have the respective buccal groove 518 and lingual groove 519with a keystone shape. The associated buccal buttress 516 and lingualbuttress 517, if properly sized, may also be either keystone shaped oras shown generally rectangular in cross section with longitudinallyextending grooves as at 516 a on the buccal buttress 516 and 517 a onthe lingual buttress 517. The buccal buttress and lingual buttress,however, must be sized to fit through the narrower opening defined bythe keystone shape of the buccal groove 518 and lingual groove 519 andare held in assembled position when the composite which is placed intothe respective buccal groove and lingual groove and hardens during theformation of the dental prosthesis. This construction enables the buccalbuttress 516 and lingual buttress 517 to remain in assembled positionwithout the use of a transverse connecting pin as described for theearlier forms of the multi-section infrastructure shown in FIGS. 1 to 8and FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the drawings.

STILL ANOTHER EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 18 to 31 illustrate a furtherembodiment of the invention used when the supporting and existing teethadjacent the edentulous space have sufficient height generally at least3½ mm or more above the gingival surface of the gum line for theedentulous space in the patient's mouth which requires the replacementof a tooth or teeth.

This embodiment of the multi-section infrastructure generally designated610 for a dental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention asin the various embodiments above described, is also illustrated andshown for replacing one or more teeth in an edentulous space in apatient's mouth wherein the edentulous space is located between a firstsupporting tooth at the anterior end of the edentulous space and asecond supporting tooth at the posterior end of the edentulous space.

The height of the respective anterior tooth and the posterior toothpermit preparation and cutting of inserts into their respective occlusalsurfaces and into the anterior and posterior proximal surfaces of thesesame supporting teeth, to enable the multi-section infrastructure 610for a dental prosthesis in accordance with this embodiment of theinvention to be fixed and braced in assembled position.

Thus, the multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis generallydesignated 610, in accordance with this form of the invention, is anassembly consisting of main support bar or beam 611, and a secondary orsupplemental support assembly generally designated 612. In addition,this form of the invention utilizes a pontic clip generally designated613. The secondary or supplemental assembly 612 may be combined with themain support bar or beam 611 alternatively of or selectively with thepontic clip 613 depending on the size and shape of the edentulous spacein which the pontic or pontics need to be replaced.

Main support bar or beam 611 is a generally elongated member which willbe fabricated by any suitable cost advantage technique preferably from asuitable metallic material such as a stainless steel alloy, gold alloy,titanium alloy, silver alloy or platinum alloy to lend extra strength tothe infrastructure of the dental prosthesis. These identified materialsare not by way of limitation as other ceramic, composite or plasticmaterials with or without fiber reinforcement having the requiredstrength and durability may also be used without departing from thescope of the present invention.

Main support bar 611 includes, a sized and shaped center section 614 anda first connecting end 615 which is connected and continuous with theanterior end of the center section 614 and a second connecting end 616which is connected and continuous with the posterior end of the centersection 614 such that the respective end sections 615 and 616 are ingeneral alignment with each other, extend in the approximate centerlineof the main support bar 611 but in opposite directions to provide meansfor connecting the main support bar into assembled position in theocclusal grooves or inserts prepared in the anterior and posterior teethadjacent the edentulous space as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

The shape of the occlusal surface of the main support bar 611 is onlyfor purposes of illustration. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat the occlusal surface may be generally square or may be star shapedas shown in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of thedrawings or may be oval, rectangular or irregular as may be necessaryfor the particular conditions for the edentulous space in which missingteeth are being replaced. Further, the occlusal surface for the mainsupport bar 611 may be flat or may have in the medial section of theocclusal surface a hollow concave or sized depression as at 611 a whichis provided for the same objects and purposes as above described for thehollow or sized depression 12 f in the main support bar 11 for the formof the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings.

Enlarged center section 614 has a length, width and height somewhat lessthan the length, width and height of the edentulous space in which thepontic or pontics need to be replaced. It is cut, cast, fabricated orformed with longitudinally extending and straight or sloped buccal andlingual grooves as at 617 and 618 to receive matching and fitted buccalbuttress 619 and lingual buttress 620 therein to provide the secondarysupport assembly 612. Medially positioned vertical grooves as at 621 and622 on opposite sides of the center section 614 coact with the ponticclip 613 to provide a means for adjusting the height of the occlusalsurface of the main support bar 611 and therefore the gingival surfaceof the formed pontic or pontics in the finished dental prosthesisrelative the gingival surface of the gum in the edentulous space.Grooves or roughened areas as at 621 a and 622 a are formed or machinedin the respective surfaces of the vertical grooves 621 and 622, as isshown at FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 of the drawings, transverse to the verticalline of the vertical grooves 621 and 622 and facing respectivelybuccally and lingually to facilitate retention of the pontic clip duringformation of the dental prosthesis. These grooved or roughened sectionsincrease the surface areas for cementing the inner face of the ponticclip 613 into assembled position during the formation or fabrication ofthe multi-section infrastructure for this embodiment of the dentalprosthesis 610.

Further, FIG. 25 shows in side elevation that the wide center section614 is formed with a generally concave occlusal surface disposed tocurve above or below the plane of the respective spaced and oppositelyextending connecting sections 615 and 616 depending on whether thedental prosthesis is being used in the teeth in the upper jaw or thelower jaw of the patient's mouth. This structure, along with the hollowconcave or sized depression 611 a, will serve to increase the thicknessof the tooth material which is formed on the occlusal surface of thepontic or pontics subsequently formed thereon to meet the enormouspressures exerted during mastication, clenching of the jaws, nightgrinding of the teeth or at any other times, due to coacting of theupper and lower teeth of the patient.

This arcuate wide center section 614 and the respective connectingsections 615 and 616 are sized and dimensioned depending on whether asingle pontic or more than one pontic is required for replacing a toothor teeth in the edentulous space. More particularly, the wide centersection will have a length which essentially will be a function of thesize of the edentulous space. The respective connecting sections as 615and 616 may be oversized in length to permit them to be cut back orground so they can be adjusted as may be necessary to fit the dentalprosthesis in accordance with this form of the invention, into assembledposition.

The same average parameters for the enlarged center section and lengthof the main support bar or beam 611 as above set forth for the form ofthe other embodiments above described are equally applicable to thisembodiment of the invention and therefore require no additionalexplanation.

In the supplemental or secondary support assembly 612, the buccalbuttress 619 fits into the longitudinally extending buccal groove 617 onthe buccal side of the enlarged center section 614 and a coactinglingual buttress 620 fits into the longitudinally extending lingualgroove 618 on the lingual side of the enlarged center section 614. Therespective buccal groove 617 and lingual groove 618, as in the earlierembodiments of the multi-section infrastructures for the dentalprosthesis in accordance with the present invention, may be sloped at anangle or may be straight and generally parallel depending on the planeof the main support bar 611. Similarly, the length of the buccalbuttress 619 and lingual buttress 620, are sized all for the sameobjects and purposes as above described and set forth for the form ofthe invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings. Spaced andtransverse connecting pins 623 a and 623 b fit into correspondingtransverse bore 624 a and 624 b for connecting the lingual buttress 619and buccal buttress 620 in assembled position.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 26 to 31 of the drawings, the pontic clip613 in accordance with this form of the invention is shown as generallyU-shaped in side elevation with a base section 623 and side legs 624 and625 which extend upwardly from the base section 623 as is shown in FIGS.18, 26, 27, 28 and 31. The side legs 624 and 625 are so spaced from eachother that in assembled position they will snugly engage the verticalbuccal and lingual side faces 621 and 622 in the enlarged center section614 on the main support bar or beam 611 and coact with the respectivegrooves 621 a and 622 a on the respective vertical buccal and lingualside faces 621 and 622 therein so they can be cemented into assembledposition.

The pontic clip is made preferably from a metal such as stainless steel,titanium, titanium alloy or any biocompatible metal which is FDAapproved for use in the commercial marketplace for this purpose toenable the outer and lower face of the base section 623 which restsagainst the gingival surface of the gum in the edentulous space to behighly polished when the dental prosthesis is in assembled position inthe edentulous space in the patient's mouth. A polished metal or thelike surface will minimize formation of plaque where the polished metalsurface rests against the gingival surface of the gum. The above is notby way of limitation because any ceramic or plastic polymer or othernatural or synthetic material which provides the necessary qualities ofsmoothness to minimize plaque formation can be utilized for thispurpose.

Base section 623 may have several different arcuate shapes because theridge or crest of the gingival surface of the gum in the edentulousspace will vary from patient to patient. A computer analysis shows thatthe various shapes of the ridges or crests of the gingival surface ofthe gums in an edentulous space running mesial-distally follow generallythree or four average curves and the pontic clip can therefore be madewith base sections which have three or four different radii to fit thesevarious gingival shapes of the gum line for a given edentulous spacewhen forming the multi-section infrastructure for the dental prosthesisfor such space. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that thebase section 623 of the pontic clip 613 can be manufactured of malleablematerials that will permit easy modification of the curved contactingsurface, if necessary, with ordinary orthodontic pliers.

The base section 623 and the side legs 624 and 625 are so formed thatthe legs can be manually deformed or compressed to facilitate assemblyand bonding of the side legs 624 and 625 into assembled position on theenlarged center section 614 of the main support bar or beam 611 in theformation of the multi-section infrastructure for this form of thedental prosthesis. Legs 624 and 625 preferably have roughened inner flatsurfaces as at 626 and 627 so they can be assembled and bonded to thegrooved or roughened surfaces 621 a and 6222 a on the vertical buccalgroove 621 and lingual groove 622 in the respective buccal and lingualsides of the wide center section 614 of the main support bar or beam611.

The respective outer surfaces of the legs 624 and 625 are formed withvertically extending slots as at 628 a and 628 b in leg 625 and 629 aand 629 b in leg 624, transversely disposed grooves as at 630 a, 630 b,630 c, etc. on leg 625 and 631 a, 631 b, 631 c, etc. on leg 624, and therespective opposite side edges are serrated on opposite sides as at 632a and 632 b for leg 624 and at 633 a and 633 b for leg 625. In addition,the pontic clip 613 is provided inwardly of the lower end where therespective legs 624 and 625 are connected to the base section 623 withshaped openings as at 634 in leg 624 and 635 in leg 625.

The grooved or roughened inner and outer surfaces, the longitudinalgrooves and shaped openings on the side legs 624 and 625 of pontic clip613 coacting with the composite all help to hold the pontic clip 613 inposition when infrastructure 611 is being used to provide a dentalprosthesis in accordance with the present invention.

ANOTHER AND STILL FURTHER EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This embodiment of the invention as shown at FIGS. 32 to 42 is a stillfurther extension of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 18 to 31of the drawings and treats with multi-section infrastructures for adental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention which meetswith one of several types of different conditions at the edentulousspace in which a pontic or pontics needs to be replaced.

Thus, for example, the multi-section infrastructure for a dentalprosthesis that needs to fill the edentulous space formerly occupied bya molar adjacent to a bicuspid needs to take into account thedifferences between bucco-lingual width at the anterior or bicuspid endof the edentulous space and the corresponding variation in this width atthe posterior or molar end of the edentulous space which can be in arange for such width from about 5.5 mm to 10.5 mm. Additionally, therelative planes of the occlusal surfaces between the supporting tooth atthe anterior end of the edentulous space and the supporting tooth at theposterior end of the edentulous space may vary so as to create a slopingangle at which the infrastructure for the dental prosthesis will beconnected when in assembled position.

The infrastructure in accordance with this embodiment for the dentalprosthesis is modified to meet the requirements for an edentulous spacewith an asymmetrical range of widths so that it can be fitted intoassembled position as is hereinafter more fully described.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 32 to 42 of the drawings, the multi-sectioninfrastructure for this embodiment of a dental prosthesis in accordancewith the present invention is generally designated 710 and is shown toinclude, an elongated sized and shaped main support bar or beam 711, anda supplemental or secondary support assembly generally designated 712.In addition, as in the earlier form of the multi-section infrastructureas shown in FIGS. 18 to 25, the main support bar or beam 711 may coactwith a pontic clip 713 for the same objects and purposes and thereforemay be used alternatively or selectively with the supplemental orsecondary support assembly 712, as has been above described for the formof the invention shown at FIGS. 18 to 25.

The main support bar or beam 711 is a generally elongated member whichwill be fabricated by any suitable cost advantage technique from asuitable metallic material such as a stainless steel alloy, titaniumalloy, silver alloy, gold alloy or platinum alloy to lend extra strengthto the infrastructure of the dental prosthesis, or from a ceramic,composite, plastic or synthetic polymer having sufficient strength anddurability for this purpose.

Main support bar or beam 711 includes a sized and shaped center section714, an anterior connecting member 715 which is connected and continuouswith the anterior end of center section 714 and a posterior connectingmember 716 which is connected and continuous with the posterior end ofthe center section 714 such that the respective connecting members 715and 716 extend along the approximate longitudinal line of the mainsupport bar 711 but in opposite directions to provide means forconnecting the main support bar 711 into assembled position. When theanterior connecting member 715 and posterior connecting member 716 areproperly fitted into assembled position in the prepared teeth adjoiningthe edentulous space, the enlarged center section 714 will be generallycentered in the edentulous space so that the pontic or pontics formedthereon will replace the tooth or teeth missing from the edentulousspace.

Sized and shaped center section 714 is asymmetrical in plan view andthus is smaller at the anterior mesial end than at the posterior distalend as is shown by FIGS. 32 and 33 of the drawings. The length, widthand height of the enlarged center section 714 is less than the length,width and height of the edentulous space into which the replacementpontic or pontics must be formed and fitted. The enlarged center sectionis cut or formed with longitudinally extending buccal and lingualgrooves as at 717 and 718 to receive matching or mating buccal buttress719 and lingual buttress 720 to provide the secondary or supplementsupport assembly 712.

In addition, the enlarged center section 714 has on the respectivebuccal and lingual sides thereof a medially disposed vertical buccalgroove 721 and a medially disposed vertical lingual groove 722. Thevertical buccal groove 721 and vertical lingual groove 722 lie in aplane behind the plane for the longitudinally extending buccal sidegroove 717 and lingual side groove 718 so that the vertical buccal andlingual grooves 721 and 722 can coact with the pontic clip 713, all ofwhich is shown in FIGS. 32, 33, 34 and 36 of the drawings. Those skilledin the art will recognize that the secondary or supplementary assembly712 and the pontic clip 713 can be used alternately or selectively,either independently of each other or in combination, depending on theparticular requirements for a given edentulous space.

In order to enable the multi-section infrastructure 710 in accordancewith this embodiment of the dental prosthesis to be properly connectedinto assembled position, the superior borders 17 a and 18 a and theinferior borders 17 b and 18 b of the respective buccal and lingual sidegrooves 717 and 718 define a trapezoidal shape in side-view andtherefore are wider at the anterior end than the posterior end of theenlarged center section 714, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 32 and 37 ofthe drawings. These trapezoidal shaped buccal side groove 717 andlingual side groove 718 coact with spaced, transverse anterior bore 724and transverse posterior bore 725, which extend from side to side thefull width of the enlarged center section 714, from the buccal sidegroove 717 to the lingual side groove 718 to enable the buccal buttress719, to be assembled into the buccal side groove 717 so that theconnecting pins 726 and 727 extend through the transversely extendinganterior bore 724 and posterior bore 725 for connection by composite orany other suitable means in the spaced bores 728 and 729 in the buccalbuttress 720 to hold the respective lingual buttress 720 and buccalbuttress 719 in assembled position in the lingual side groove 718 andbuccal side groove 717. As in the earlier forms of the invention, thetips of the connecting pins will have a cone shape to facilitateassembly and connection in the spaced bores 728 and 729 in the buccalbuttress 719, all of which is shown in FIGS. 32, 33, 34 and 37 of thedrawings.

FIG. 37 further shows that the transverse anterior bore 724 has an ovalshape and by reason of the trapezoidal shape of the respective buccalside groove 717 and lingual side groove 718 when the buccal buttress 719and lingual buttress 720 are in assembled position the respectivebuttresses when connected by connecting pin 726 can slide up and down inthe transverse anterior bore 724 so that the respective ends of thebuccal and lingual buttresses can be adjusted to enable this embodimentof the multi-section infrastructure to be properly mounted more easilyinto the indentations in the supporting teeth on the anterior andposterior side of the edentulous space in which the pontic or ponticsneed to be replaced.

Although the transverse anterior bore 724 is illustrated with an ovalhole, those skilled in the art will recognize that the transverseanterior bore 724 may be a round hole having a diameter greater than theassociated connecting pin 726 which extends through the transverseanterior bore 724 without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Similarly, the transverse posterior bore 725, althoughillustrated as a round bore, may have a diameter greater than theassociated connecting pin 727 or may be oval as shown by the phantomizedlines at 725 a in FIGS. 37 and 40 of the drawings. Such variations ofthe transverse anterior and posterior bores 724 and 725 may be desirableto facilitate assembly and fitting of the multi-section infrastructureinto assembled position in the edentulous space.

In order to enable the secondary or supplemental assembly 712 and thepontic clips 713 or such other pontic clips as are described herein tobe used in combination with the supplemental assembly 712, the enlargedcenter section must have a sufficient width to permit the respectivevertical buccal and lingual grooves 721 and 722 to be cut or so formedas to enable the pontic clips 713 or any of the pontic clips describedherein to fit into assembled position in association with the buccalbuttress 719 and lingual buttress 720 as is shown in FIGS. 18, 21, 32and 33 of the drawings.

The simpler but somewhat different pontic clip 713 fits into and coactswith the transverse buccal and lingual grooves 721 a and 722 a cut andformed in the surfaces of vertical buccal groove 721 and verticallingual groove 722 in the shaped and sized center section 714 of themain support bar or beam 711 for the form of multi-sectioninfrastructure 710 shown in FIGS. 32 to 42 of the drawings.

FIGS. 43, 43A, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 show that pontic clip 713, likepontic clip 613, is generally U-shaped in side elevation with a basesection 730 from which side legs 731 and 732 extend upwardly.

Pontic clip 713 will be better understood by reference to FIG. 43A whichshows one form of stamping or shaped blank generally designated 713 afrom which the pontic clip 713 will be formed. On the blank 713 a theelongated base 730 has the side legs 731 and 732 connected so that theyextend in transversely of the longitudinal legs of the elongated base730 in opposite directions from each other. Thus, when legs 731 and 732are bent upwardly from the base 730, they form the U-shaped pontic clip713. However, at the point where the side legs 731 and 732 intersect,cutouts are provided as at 733 a and 733 b on the respective oppositesides of the leg 731 and at 734 a and 734 b on the opposite sides of leg732. Thus, when the respective side leg 731 and side leg 732 are bent toprovide the desired U-shape for pontic clip 713, the side legs 731 and732 are notably in spaced position with respect to each other, but therespective legs are so positioned that they lie or align with the sideedges of the base 723, all of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 43, 43A,45, 466, 47 and 48 of the drawings.

These figures also show that the side legs 731 and 732 are so spacedfrom each other that like pontic clip 613, they will in assembledposition snugly engage the respective vertical buccal groove and lingualgroove 721 and 722 in the shaped and sized central section 714. Inaddition, these figures show that on the respective inner side faces asat 731 a and 732 a, the side legs 731 and 732 also have transversegrooves or are roughened transversely with respect to the vertical linesof the respective legs so that during assembly, these grooved orroughened surfaces 731 a and 732 a can functionally engage the similarlygrooved or roughened surfaces 721 a and 722 a on the buccal face andlingual face of the vertical buccal groove 721 and vertical lingualgroove 722 in the shaped and sized central section 714 of the mainsupport bar or beam 711 and thus can form therewith a tight fit whencemented into assembled position.

Pontic clips 613 and 713 will be made of materials which will permit,for example, the legs 732 and 732 of pontic clip 713 to be flexedtowards and away from each other to achieve some functional engagementfor holding the pontic clip 613 or 713 before it is cemented intoassembled position.

Moreover, before either of the pontic clips are connected to and bondedinto assembled position on the main support bar 711, the pontic clipsare adjusted, so the pontic clip base, for example, base 730 of ponticclip 713, is adjusted so that it touches the gingival tissue or theequivalent occlusal surface of the edentulous space, as hereinafter morefully described. Further, the grooved inner side faces 731 a on leg 731and 732 a on leg 732 of, for example, the pontic clip 713, is disposedto functionally engage the respective buccal or roughened inner surface721 a in vertical buccal groove 721 and lingual and roughened innersurface 722 a in vertical lingual groove 722, to prevent the givenpontic clip from separating or falling off of the main support bar 711as it is moved into the mouth of the patient, and the main support bar711 is placed into position for forming the dental prosthesis inaccordance with the present invention.

In view of the similarity in shape and size, pontic clip 713 may beutilized in the place and stead of pontic clip 613 and vice versa, withsuch minor modifications as may be necessary to accomplish the objectsand purposes of these respective pontic clips or such others as areshown and described herein, as the conditions for replacing a tooth orteeth in the edentulous space in the patient's mouth may require.

As in the earlier and similar embodiments above described, when thepontic clip 713 is in assembled position, the elongated base 730 will bedisposed under the enlarged center section 714 and the respective sidelegs 731 and 732 will fit and extend upwardly through the associatedvertical buccal groove 721 and vertical lingual groove 722, all of whichis clearly shown in FIGS. 32 and 33 of the drawings.

To assist in the operative association of the pontic clip 713 with therespective buccal buttress 719 and lingual buttress 720, the side legs731 and 732 also have their outer surfaces as at 731 b and 732 b groovedor roughened. As in the pontic clip 613 for the earlier embodiment ofthe multi-section infrastructure above described, after the pontic clip713 is bonded to the main support bar 711, these above describedelements, such as the grooved or roughened outer surface on the ponticclip 713, improve the bonding and retention of the cementing orcomposite material for forming the pontic or pontics on themulti-section infrastructure during the formation of the dentalprosthesis in accordance with this form of the present invention.

Also, as in the early embodiment above described for the form of themulti-section infrastructure as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawings,the main support bar 711, the exterior surfaces of the respective buccaland lingual buttress and the outer surfaces of the pontic clip 713 willbe acid etched, sand blasted or surface roughened, to increase theirsurface area and to improve retention of the cementing or compositematerial during the fabrication of the pontic or pontics formed on agiven dental prosthesis and in the cementing and fixing of theconnecting ends 715 and 716 of the main support bar or beam 711 for thedental prosthesis into assembled position in the teeth adjacent to theedentulous space in the patient's mouth in which a tooth or teeth needto be replaced.

While a rectangular main support bar or beam 611 was illustrated for theform of the dental prosthesis shown in FIGS. 18 to 25 and anasymmetrical main support bar or beam 711 was illustrated for the formof the dental prosthesis shown in FIGS. 32 to 37, this is not intendedby way of limitation because the main support bar or beam for any of theforms of the dental prosthesis as shown herein may take any other formor shape such as oval, diamond or triangular as may be necessary for theparticular conditions which prevail for a given edentulous spaceadjacent to or between the teeth in the patient's mouth.

STILL ANOTHER AND FURTHER EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 49 to 56 of thedrawings is an extension of the form of the invention shown at FIGS. 32to 42 of the drawings and therefor treats with a multi-sectioninfrastructure for a dental prosthesis that needs to fill anasymmetrical edentulous space formerly occupied, for example, by abicuspid or bicuspids adjacent to a cuspid at the point where the teethform a circle or arch with the teeth at the front end of the patient'smouth. Such infrastructure must not only allow for the differencesbetween the mesial-distal length but also for the differences in thebucco-lingual widths at the anterior bicuspid-cuspid end and theposterior or bicuspid or molar end of the edentulous space, the slopecaused by the relative planes of the occlusal surfaces of the spacedanterior and posterior supporting teeth and more particularly the changeof the curvature from the respective anterior teeth to the more evenlyaligned posterior teeth, either to the right or left as the case may be,and whether in the upper jaw or the lower jaw.

Thus by reference to FIGS. 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56, themulti-section infrastructure generally designated 810 for thisembodiment is adapted to meet the requirements for such an asymmetricaledentulous space that is disposed where the teeth in a patient's mouthare on a curve between a supporting anterior cuspid tooth and asupporting posterior bicuspid or molar tooth, as the case may be.Multi-section infrastructure 810 includes a main support bar or beam811, a supplemental or secondary support assembly generally designated812 which differs somewhat from the secondary support assemblies abovedescribed for reasons that will be clear from the description whichfollows below and may as in some of the earlier embodiments also have apontic clip 813 for coaction with the main support bar or beam 811 andthe supplemental or secondary assembly 812 for the same objects andpurposes as above set forth in these above embodiments of the presentinvention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that eitherof the pontic clips as at 613 and 713 my be used and further that thesupplemental or secondary support assembly at 812 or any of such ponticclips can also be used independently, alternately or selectively of eachother depending on the nature and size of the mesial-distal length ofthe missing tooth or teeth that need to be replaced in the edentulousspace.

The main support bar or beam 811 is a generally elongated member whichwill be fabricated from a suitable metallic material such as a stainlesssteel alloy, titanium alloy, gold alloy, platinum alloy or any FDAapproved material to lend strength to the infrastructure of the dentalprosthesis or from a ceramic, composite or plastic having sufficientstrength and durability for this purpose.

Main support bar or beam 811 includes a sized and shaped center section814, and anterior connecting member 815 which is connected andcontinuous with the anterior end of the center section 814 and aposterior connecting member 816 also connected and continuous with theposterior end of center section 814. A pontic clip as at 813 may alsoform part of the multi-section infrastructure 810.

This embodiment differs from the earlier forms of the invention abovedescribed in that the anterior connecting member 815 extends to the leftof the longitudinal line of the main support bar 811 and while theposterior connecting member 816 is illustrated as extending in theopposite direction from the anterior connecting member generally in thelongitudinal line of the main support bar 811, if the curvature betweenthe anterior supporting tooth and the posterior supporting toothrespectively adjacent to the edentulous space so require, the posteriorconnecting member 816 can be formed or bent with a dental pliers to theright or left of the longitudinal line of the main support bar 811 thusenabling the main support bar 811 to be connected into assembledposition on the respective teeth adjoining the edentulous space so thatthe enlarged center section will fit into and be centered in theedentulous space where the pontic or pontics formed thereon will replacethe missing teeth.

In this embodiment as in the earlier embodiments, the shaped and sizedcenter section 814 also has in the occlusal surface a hollow concave orindented depression 814 a for the same purpose and objects as the hollowconcave or indented depressions 611 a and 714 a above described for theforms of the invention shown at FIGS. 18 to 25 and FIGS. 32 to 42 of thedrawings.

Enlarged center section 814 is also asymmetrical in plan view or mayhave such other shape as may be required by the edentulous space ordesired by the dentist for mechanical, aesthetic or other reasons andincludes substantially the same members and means for connecting thesupplement or secondary support assembly 812 and/or the pontic clip 813as is shown and above described for the embodiment at FIGS. 32 to 42 ofthe drawings. However, in this embodiment, it is often necessary tomodify the supplemental or secondary supporting assembly 812. First,because the anterior connecting end 815 when turned or curved is offsetfrom the longitudinal line of the sized and shaped center section 814which reduces, limits or restricts the length of the space available atthe lingual side of the center section 814 for the lingual buttress ofthe secondary supporting assembly 812. Second, where this embodiment isused, in the curved section of the patient's teeth, the cuspids, becauseof the lingual inclined slope do not have sufficient height and width onthe lingual proximals to cut indentations on the lingual side of suchcuspids.

Thus, while the embodiment includes and shows the buccal groove 917 andlingual groove 918 similar to such grooves in the earlier embodimentsabove described, only the buccal buttress 919 is shown in solid lines inassembled position while the lingual buttress 920 is shown inphantomized form with dotted lines. The lingual buttress 920 isillustrated in phantomized form because it must either be eliminated dueto the reduction in the space on the lingual side of the center sectioncovered by the curved or turned position of the anterior connecting end915 or it must be trimmed so that it will not be necessary to positionthe anterior and/or posterior end in indentations which cannot beprovided because of the very small transverse proximals on the cuspidsupporting tooth or teeth adjacent to the edentulous space in which thetooth or teeth are being replaced.

The same character numerals, description and statements made above withrespect to the earlier embodiment shown at FIGS. 32 to 42 apply equallyto the embodiment shown at FIGS. 49 to 56 of the drawings.

A STILL FURTHER EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 57 to 60, another form of infrastructure generally designated910 for forming a dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated for use where the depth between the plane ofthe occlusal surface of the supporting tooth or teeth and the gingivafor the edentulous space is relatively small.

This is effectively met by reducing the height of the central section ofthe main support bar, making the grooves for the respective buccal andlingual side of the main support bar substantially wider withoutchanging or making the respective buccal and lingual buttresses widerand providing large transverse bores so that when the connecting pinsare in assembled position in the associated transverse bores, therespective buccal and lingual buttresses can be freely moved up and downto accommodate where the indentations can be established in the anteriorand/or posterior proximal surfaces of the associated support teeth, allof which is more fully described in the methods set forth below forcreating the dental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention.

Thus referring to FIGS. 57 to 60 of the drawings, the multi-sectioninfrastructure generally designated 910 for forming a dental prosthesisin accordance with this form of the invention, like the earlier forms ofthe inventions above described, has a main support bar or beam 911having a sized and shaped center section 914, a supplemental orsecondary support assembly, generally designated 912, and a pontic clip913 which coacts with the main support bar or beam 911 and the secondarysupport assembly 912 for the same objects and purposes and in the samemanner as above described.

As in the earlier forms of the invention, main support bar 911 will befabricated by any suitable cost advantage technique from any suitablematerial such as has been enumerated above with respect to main supportbars or beams 611, 711 and 811.

Connected to the respective anterior and posterior ends of the enlargedcenter section 914 are the anterior connecting end 915 and posteriorconnecting end 916 which are so connected that they extend along thelongitudinal line of the main support bar 911 but in opposite directionsand operate and function for connecting the main support bar 911 intoassembled position in the prepared occlusal grooves in the teethadjoining the edentulous space, as above described for the connectingends 615 and 616 for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 18 to 31or connecting ends 715 and 716 for the form of the invention shown inFIGS. 32 to 48 or connecting ends 815 and 816 for the form of theinvention shown at FIGS. 49 to 56.

The enlarged center section 914, while shown as generally symmetrical inplan view, may have any other shape consistent with the requirements forthe given edentulous space where pontic or pontics need to be replaced.In this illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the generallysymmetrical shape in plan view and side view is substantially similar tothat above described for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8of the drawings. Thus, the enlarged center section 914 will be widest atthe medial section and will taper generally uniformly so that the shapenarrows towards the respective anterior and posterior ends of moreparticularly the upper section or the occlusal table for center section914. The length, width and height of the enlarged center section 914will be a function of the corresponding length, width and height of theedentulous space where the pontic or pontics need to be replaced.

It is thought clear from FIGS. 52 to 60 that the limited width of thecenter section and its limited height will be particularly ideal for anedentulous space in which the adjacent supporting tooth or teeth arerelatively wide but the depth from the occlusal surface of such teeth tothe gingiva of the edentulous space is relatively small.

The enlarged center section as in the earlier forms of theinfrastructure above described, has the vertical buccal groove 921 andvertical lingual groove 922 into which the legs 931 and 932 of thepontic clip 913 will slidably fit to enable the main support bar 911 tobe adjusted relative the edentulous space and the prepared occlusalgrooves in the respective teeth adjacent the edentulous space when thepolished base section 930 of the U-shaped pontic clip is resting on theocclusal surface of the gingiva or gum line in the edentulous space inthe patient's mouth, all of which is shown in FIGS. 57, 58, 59, 60 and61 of the drawings.

While FIGS. 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 show that the enlarged center sectionof the main support bar 711 is cut or formed like the embodiments of theinvention shown at FIGS. 1 to 8, 18 to 25, 32 to 42 and 49 to 56 of thedrawings, to provide longitudinally extending buccal groove 917 andlongitudinally extending lingual grooves 918, this embodiment differsfrom these earlier embodiments in that the vertical space between theinferior and superior borders of these respective grooves 917 and 918are greater than that of the relatively smaller vertical height of therespective buccal buttress 919 which is mounted in the buccal groove 917and the lingual buttress which is mounted in the lingual groove 918 toallow for adjustability of these respective buttresses both verticallyat each end and for angular positioning relative to the longitudinalline of the multi-section infrastructure 710 when in assembled positionas illustrated by the solid and dotted lines for the buccal buttress 919in FIG. 61.

Such adjustability is obtained because the connecting pins 920 a and 920b on the buccal buttress 917 are disposed in assembled position toextend through enlarged transverse bores 921 a and 922 b, all of whichis shown in FIGS. 57, 59, 60 and 61 of the drawings.

These elements are used to coact with the U-shaped pontic clip 913 toprovide secondary support depending on the size of the edentulous spaceand the size and/or number of pontics required to replace the teethmissing in the edentulous space in the patient's mouth.

In the present embodiment the vertically disposed buccal groove 921 andvertically disposed lingual groove 922 and the respective legs 931 and932 of the U-shaped clip 913 which are fitted into and coact with thetransverse grooves 921 a and 922 a, not shown, are modified in the samemanner above described so as to establish predetermined frictionalengagement which will enable the main support bar to be adjustedvertically when the U-shaped pontic clip is in assembled position in thebuccal and lingual grooves 921 and 922 and to be held in such assembledposition until the U-shaped pontic clip 913 is bonded to the mainsupport bar 911 by any suitable cementing means such as a cryogenic or acomposite cement.

Thus the multi-section infrastructure in accordance with this embodimentsafely holds the U-shaped pontic clip 913 until the main support bar 911is moved to the optimum adjusted position, at which time the U-shapedpontic clip can be bonded to the main support bar by any suitable means.

STILL ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the embodiments of the invention shown in the multi-sectioninfrastructure at 1010 of FIGS. 62 to 66 and at 1110 of FIGS. 67 to 69for forming a dental prosthesis in accordance with the present inventionare shaped and sized to meet special requirements for certain edentulousspaces in which a pontic or pontics need to be replaced.

Thus, in FIGS. 62 to 66, the multi-section infrastructure 1010 providesan assembly where the depth of the edentulous space relative theocclusal surface of the tooth or teeth adjacent to the edentulous spaceis greater than at least 3.5 mm, or further that the curvature of thegingiva in the edentulous space does not conform to the three or fouraverage curvatures for the generally normal edentulous space in apatient's mouth.

In this illustrated embodiment this condition is met by extending thedepth of the center section of the multi-section infrastructure andspacing the supplemental or secondary supporting assembly connected tothe center section near the upper section thereof.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 62 to 66, the multi-section infrastructure 1010is shown with a main support bar or beam 1011 and a supplemental orsecondary support assembly generally designated 1012. No pontic clip isillustrated for this form of the invention for reasons that will beclear form the comment below regarding meeting the requirements for thecurvature of the gingiva for the edentulous space in which the dentalprosthesis formed from this type of multi-section infrastructure is usedto replace a pontic or pontics.

The main support bar or beam 1011 is a shaped and sized memberfabricated as in the earlier form of the multi-section infrastructureabove described from any suitable metallic material such as stainlesssteel alloy, titanium allow, gold alloy, platinum alloy or any FDAapproved material to lend the necessary strength to the multi-sectioninfrastructure for the dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention. The above metallic materials are not by way of limitationbecause the multi-section infrastructure may also be made from anyceramic, composite or plastic material having sufficient strength anddurability for this purpose.

Similar to the earlier form of the present invention described at FIGS.1 to 8 of the drawings, main support bar or beam 1011 includes anenlarged sized and shaped center section 1014, an anterior connectingend 1015 connected to and continuous with the anterior end of the centersection 1015 and a posterior connecting end 1016 also connected to andcontinuous with the posterior end of the center section 1015. It will beunderstood that while the anterior connecting end 1015 and posteriorconnecting end 1016 are shown in general alignment with each other andwith the longitudinal line of the main support bar 1011 that theanterior connecting end 1015 and posterior connecting end 1016 may bevaried both as to their respective planes and with respect to theircurvatures from the longitudinal line of the main support bar 1011consistent with these various different alignments as above described.

The enlarged shaped and sized center section 1014 also has a hollowconcave or indented depression 1014 a for the same purposes and objectsas above described. The center section 1014 further has a deep orextended lower section 1014 b which provides the necessary shape andsize to meet the requirements for the correspondingly deep edentulousspace in which a pontic or pontics are being replaced and to provide alower surface 1014 c which can be carved, shaped and polished by theDentist, as illustrated by the dotted line at 1014 d, to custom fit thedental prosthesis ultimately formed with this embodiment of themulti-section infrastructure to meet the requirements of the non-uniformgingiva for this or any other type of edentulous space in which a ponticor pontics are being replaced.

The supplemental or secondary supporting assembly 1012 includes a buccalgroove 1017 and a lingual groove 1018 which are disposed closer to theupper end of the center section 1014. Mounted in the buccal groove 1017is a buccal buttress 1019 and in the lingual groove 1018 a lingualbuttress 1020.

Other than the fact that this supplemental or secondary supportingassembly 1012 is disposed closer to the upper end of the center section1014, it is otherwise generally identical to the supplemental orsecondary supporting assembly as above described and accordingly nofurther explanation is deemed necessary for these elements of thisembodiment of the multi-section infrastructure 1010.

How the lower face 1014 c is curved and shaped by the Dentist will bebetter understood in the description below on the method for forming andfitting the dental prosthesis in the patient's mouth as more fully setforth below.

In the embodiment of the invention shown at FIGS. 67 to 71 of thedrawings, the multi-section infrastructure generally designated 1110 forforming a dental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention isshaped and sized to meet the requirements of a relatively deepedentulous space where the occlusal surfaces of the teeth on theanterior side and posterior side of the edentulous space are on sharplydifferent planes.

In this situation the molars tend to lean into the empty edentulousspace. Thus, the supporting tooth on the anterior side of the edentulousspace will have an occlusal surface that is substantially higher thanthe occlusal surface for the supporting tooth on the posterior side ofthe edentulous space.

In this form of the multi-section infrastructure, the anteriorconnecting end and the posterior connecting end can be custom fitted tomeet the problems which this presents in the formation of a dentalprosthesis in accordance with the present invention.

Thus referring to FIGS. 67 to 69, multi-section infrastructure 1110 hasa main supporting bar or beam 111 operatively associated with a ponticclip 1113.

Main supporting bar 1111, as in the case of the earlier form abovedescribed, will be made of a metal alloy or other suitable materialwhich is FDA approved.

Further, main supporting bar 1111 will have a center section 1114, ananterior connecting end 1115 connected to and continuous with theanterior end of the center section 1114 and a posterior connecting end1116 connected to and continuous with the posterior connecting end ofcenter section 1014. Anterior connecting end 1115 is in a differentplace than that of the posterior connecting end 1116 to illustratemulti-section infrastructure 1110 adapted for use in an edentulous spacewhere the planes of the occlusal surfaces of the respective anteriorsupport tooth differs from that of the posterior support tooth.

As will be clear from FIGS. 67, 69, 70 and 71 of the drawings that theanterior connecting end 1015 and posterior connecting end 1016 are ondifferent planes and therefore they can meet the problem which occurswhen the occlusal surface of the supporting tooth at the anterior end ofthe edentulous space in which a pontic or pontics are being replaceddiffers sharply from the occlusal surface of the supporting tooth at theposterior end of such edentulous space.

Further, however, while the anterior connecting end 1115 and theposterior end 1116 are shown as having a given length and are inalignment with each other, the Dentist can custom fit the main supportbar or beam 1111 into assembled position so as to position the centersection 1114 of the main support bar or beam 1111 properly in theedentulous space by using a dentist orthodontic pliers and grindingmeans to cut and bend the anterior connecting end 115 and/or theposterior connecting end 1116 to a desired length or to bend theseelements to fit in the occlusal preparation in the teeth adjacent to theedentulous space.

The pontic clip 1113 may be any one of the pontic clips as abovedescribed and shown in the drawings and is used for the same object andpurposes as has been above described.

METHOD AND PROCESS FOR FORMING THE DENTAL PROSTHESIS

These embodiments for the improved multi-section infrastructure as abovedescribed are respectively alternatively selectable for establishing thedental prosthesis in accordance with the present invention having, apontic or pontics for filling the edentulous space adjacent to andbetween the patient's teeth. This can be done by two methods which arealso selectable in the alternative by the Dentist fabricating the dentalprosthesis. First, by direct “in situ” procedures in the patient'smouth, or second, by an indirect procedure, exterior of the patient'smouth, using a stone cast model of the edentulous space and its adjacenttooth or teeth.

A. “IN SITU” Formation of a Dental Prosthesis

The steps of this method are best understood by reference to FIGS. 72,73 and 74 of the drawings which show the fabrication of a dentalprosthesis with a single pontic for replacement of a missing tooth in anedentulous space ES in a patient's mouth between a first tooth FTanterior of the edentulous space and a second tooth ST posterior of theedentulous space.

The patient's bite is first adjusted by normal equilibration techniques.Potential or actual infection of the gums and any cavities in the teethare all corrected before the further procedures are followed.

In the periodontal ligament space of each of the first and second teethadjacent to the edentulous space, the patient's gums are firstanesthetized by infiltration and/or intraligamentary anesthesia. Thenusing a 558 fissure or similar burr, inserts or grooves are cut as at1200 in the occlusal surface of the first tooth FT and similarly as at1201 in the occlusal surface of the second tooth ST adjacent to theanterior and posterior ends of the edentulous space ES. The depth of theocclusal inserts or grooves 1200 and 1201 should be at least 3.00 mmdeep into the occlusal-proximal of the respective anterior and posteriorteeth FT and ST and will be in minimum outline form for a class 1 cavitypreparation but will go through the marginal ridge of the respectiveteeth in the portion adjacent to the edentulous space ES. For longeredentulous spaces where buccal and/or lingual buttresses are required,bilateral indentations as at 1202 on the anterior tooth FT and at 1203in the posterior tooth ST are cut during the fitting of the dentalprosthesis in assembled position in the edentulous space as describedbelow.

When there is adequate occlusal to gingival height on a given toothadjacent to the edentulous space, a diamond burr or an appropriatecarbide burr, such as a Brasseler 1158 TC burr, can be used for cuttingthe proximal wall to create parallel walls with excellent undercuts. Theside walls of the inserts or grooves 1200 and 1201 follow the perimeteroutlines.

After the teeth are thus prepared, the following steps illustrate howone embodiment, for example, the infrastructure shown in FIGS. 32 to 42of the drawings, can be fitted into assembled position by this “in situ”method.

1.1 Acid etch the respective anterior tooth FT and posterior tooth ST,twenty to thirty seconds for the enamel and five to ten seconds for thedentine. Then wash and dry these respective teeth.

1.2 Apply to each of the respective anterior and posterior teeth FT andST at least five coats of any suitable primer such as “Allbond-PrimerA,B,”, a product available in the commercial marketplace, and then placea bonding resin on the respective teeth and cure the resin. One may alsouse a ,one step, primer-resin combination for this step which is alsoavailable in the commercial marketplace.

1.3 Occlusal grooves or grooves as at 1200 and 1201 are cut in therespective tooth or teeth as above described.

1.4 The main support bar or section 711 which has the desired averagelength to fill the edentulous space ES is selected and is now adjustedand fitted by removing a portion of the anterior connecting end 715 andthe posterior connecting end 716 by grinding or cutting the length ofthe respective anterior connecting end 715 and posterior connecting end716 so that the shaped and sized center section 714 for themulti-section infrastructure 710, or such main supporting bar or sectionfrom any of the other multi-section infrastructures as described herein,is generally centered in the edentulous space ES, and the sized anteriorconnecting end 715 and posterior connecting end 716 rest respectively inthe occlusal grooves 1200 and 1201.

1.5 If a pontic clip is to be used, after establishing the fit of themain support bar or beam 711, the main support bar 811 is removed and apontic clip having, a center section matching the length and thecurvature of the edentulous space ES is selected and placed on the mainsupport bar or beam 711. The main support bar 711 with the pontic clipattached is replaced in position in the edentulous space and while theanterior connecting end 715 and posterior connecting end 716 rest in therespective associated occlusal grooves 1200 and 1201, the selectedpontic clip is pushed towards the gingival occlusal surface in theedentulous space until the base section rests lightly on the gingivalsurface. By reason of the frictional engagement of the pontic clip withthe grooved surfaces of the vertical buccal groove and the verticallingual groove, the selected pontic clip will remain in thispre-assembled position and thereafter will be permanently cemented tothe main support bar in this assembled position. The side legs which areabove the occlusal surface of the main support bar are removed as bygrinding the extra length off with a suitable dental burr.

1.6 The main support bar with the pontic clip attached is now removed,and after acid etching all cut surfaces of the respective supportingtooth or teeth, the dual cure bonding cement or suitable bonding resinis placed in the occlusal grooves 1200 and 1201, and the main supportsection or beam 711 is now returned to assembled position, with thepontic clip selected thereon, so that the anterior connecting end 715and posterior connecting end 716 rest in the partially filled occlusalgrooves 1200 and 1201 in the respective anterior tooth FT and posteriortooth ST.

1.7 With the main support bar or beam 711 fitted in this generallyassembled position, it can be used as a guide for placing theindentations 1202 and 1203 at the line angles on the respective proximalwalls of the anterior tooth FT and the posterior tooth ST by running afissure or similar dental burr along the superior surface of therespective buccal groove and lingual groove in the main support bar andthen along the inferior surface of the same respective buccal andlingual groove, directly into the proximal surface of the anterior toothFT and the posterior tooth ST adjacent to the edentulous space, for adepth of approximately 1.5 mm.

1.8 Thus, the spaced indentations or dimples are cut at sites which arelinear extensions of the anterior and posterior ends of the respectivebuccal groove and lingual groove as illustrated at 1202 on the buccalside of the mesial proximal wall of the anterior tooth FT and 1203 onthe buccal side of the distal proximal wall of the posterior tooth ST asis shown in FIGS. 72 and 73 of the drawings. Similar indentations, notshown, are prepared or cut in the lingual side of the mesial proximalwall of the anterior tooth FT and the lingual side of the distalproximal wall of the posterior tooth ST.

1.9 The lingual buttress with the transverse connecting pin or pinsattached is next mounted into the lingual groove in the central sectionfor the main support bar of the multi-section infrastructure for formingthe dental prosthesis by passing the pin or pins through the associatedtransverse bore or bores and pulling the lingual tightly against thelingual groove by holding the pins with the thumb and index finger. Thelingual buttress is now bonded into position. The connecting pins whichare used to so hold the lingual buttress securely until bonded intoassembled position also serve the purpose of providing for subsequentfitting and engagement with the aligned holes in the buccal buttressthus now permitting the buccal buttress to be tightly mounted andcorrectly oriented in the buccal groove. With this assembly procedure,the respective lingual buttress rests snugly against the lingual side ofthe adjacent anterior and posterior supporting tooth or teeth, and thebuccal buttress rests tightly against the buccal side of theserespective anterior and posterior supporting tooth or teeth.

1.10 The lingual buttress is now sized at its ends so that it fits intothe respective anterior lingual indentation in the proximal of theanterior supporting tooth FT and the posterior lingual indentation inthe proximal of the posterior supporting tooth ST. By using suitableself-curing bonding, the lingual buttress is now cemented and fixed inassembled position with the transverse connecting pin or pins extendingthrough the transverse bore or bores for communication with the buccalbuttress. These steps of cementing the lingual buttress into positionfirst is to facilitate the subsequent placement of the buccal buttress.Once the lingual buttress is affixed in assembled position, it is theneasier to affix the buccal buttress into assembled position because theconnecting pin or pins are now in a fixed position and cannot move asthe buccal buttress is mounted on the pins and also fixed in assembledposition.

1.11 Thus after the lingual buttress is affixed in assembled position,the buccal buttress is sized at its ends so that it fits into therespective anterior buccal indentations in the proximal of the anteriorsupporting tooth FT and the posterior buccal indentation in the proximalof the posterior supporting tooth ST. By applying suitable bondingresins and curing the resins, the buccal buttress can be fixed inassembled position. Last, the extending ends of the connecting pin orpins are then cut or ground off flush with the outer face of the buccalbuttress and all the parts are treated with dual cure bonding cement orresin and the entire assembly cured to connect the parts and cement theminto assembled position to provide the multi-section infrastructure 710,as illustrated, for the dental prosthesis.

1.12 The pontic can now be built-up about the multi-sectioninfrastructure with bonding material and cured until large enough eitherto receive a tooth mold partly loaded with composite material, or topermit the Dentist to free hand fashion the bonding material until thedesired shape for the given pontic or pontics are obtained.

1.13 If the pontic is fabricated with a tooth mold on the preformedmulti-section infrastructure of the dental prosthesis, a celluloidmylar, polyethylene or similar clear plastic crown form is cut andformed with a slot or opening at the respective mesial and distalproximal ends so that the crown form will fit over the preformed base ofcomposite material and about the oppositely projecting connecting endsof the main support bar or beam 711.

1.14 The crown form is positioned on the preformed base of compositematerial, and the gingival edges are trimmed. The occlusal surface ofthe crown form is designed to be approximately 1.25 mm below the planeof the occlusal surface of the teeth FT and ST adjacent to theedentulous space in which the tooth or teeth are being replaced.

1.15 The crown form is now removed, filled with composite material andthen pushed and pressed onto the preformed base of composite materialabout the shaped and sized wide center section 12 on the main supportbar or beam 11 until the gingival edges of the crown form are firmlyseated against the surfaces corresponding to the gingiva or gum line ofthe edentulous space in the patient's mouth.

1.16 When in this position, the composite material is subjected toultra-violet light to cure and harden the pontic or pontics into theirinitial rough form.

1.17 Thus, with the above steps a dental prosthesis with a roughlyformed pontic or pontics replacement unit thereon is provided having anapproximate custom fit for the edentulous space in the patient's mouthin which the tooth or teeth have to be replaced.

1.18 The mold form can then be removed and the formed pontic or ponticssculpted and trimmed to provide the desired finished shape.

1.19 During the build-up of the given pontic or pontics, embrasures arekept open by using a perio-probe or similar instrument horizontally, andthen a wedge-like instrument to provide the exact shape to meet hygienicneeds.

1.20 The occlusal surface or surfaces on the pontics for a given dentalprosthesis are approximately 1.25 mm lower than the occlusal surfaces ofthe supporting tooth or teeth adjacent to the edentulous space. Thissurface or surfaces is now covered with soft composite on top of whichis placed a clear thin transparent material such as “SARAN WRAP™” orpolyethylene. The patient is then told to bite to a completely closedposition and then open. The occlusal shaped surface formed on thecomposite covered pontic or pontics of the dental prosthesis by theindentations from contact with the opposite tooth or teeth is thencured, and effectively the occlusion between the upper teeth and thelower teeth in the patient's mouth can be adjusted in just minutes.

1.21 After the occlusal surfaces of the composite material from whichthe pontic is formed are completely sculpted and polished, the compositematerial is again acid etched, washed, dried and a partly filledhydrophilic resin such as the resin sold in the commercial marketplaceunder the trademark “FORTIFY” is used to resurface the composite, toresecure any loose filler. “FORTIFY”, a Bisco Product readily availablein the commercial marketplace, is a partly filled resin with componentswhich act to slow down wear of the composite material. This or a similarmaterial is used as a final outer coating to reseal the outer surfacesof the composite that have been ground or carved during the formation ofthe pontic in the dental prosthesis in accordance with the presentinvention and the method of ‘in situ’ fabrication of such dentalprosthesis as above described. The final product showing the replacementof a single pontic in the edentulous space ES of FIG. 72 is as shown inFIG. 74.

B. Exterior Formation of Dental Prosthesis on a Cast Model

Cast model when used herein refers to any of the well known dentaltechniques for forming models of a patient's teeth and gums frommaterials also well known which harden into devices generally referredto as stone cast models. Since these devices and methods are well knownto those skilled in the art, they will not be more fully described.

The forming or fabrication of a dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention on a stone cast model exterior of the patient's mouthprovides the Dentist with additional freedoms and options over thepreparation of such dental prosthesis by the “in situ” procedure asabove described. When the Dentist fabricates a dental prosthesis fromany of the multi-section infrastructures as above described, the Dentistcan save valuable time by assigning the fabrication of such dentalprosthesis to an associate or a laboratory technician exterior of thepatient's mouth on such stone cast model of the edentulous space wherethe tooth or teeth are being replaced and the supporting tooth or teethadjacent thereto.

Formation of the dental prosthesis on the stone cast model differs fromthe “in situ” procedure, as above described, in that after the dentalprosthesis is formed, it must be transferred from the stone cast modeland be assembled, fitted and affixed to the supporting tooth or teethadjacent to the edentulous space in the patient's mouth and thenappropriately finished in such assembled position.

To achieve this end, the method of fabricating the dental prosthesis ona stone cast model utilizes “shims” or “spacers” in the multi-sectioninfrastructure for the given dental prosthesis which occupy the buccaland lingual grooves in the enlarged center section of the main supportsection or bar of the multi-section infrastructure selected while thedental prosthesis is being formed in the stone cast model. The purposeof the shims is to occupy the respective buccal groove and lingualgroove during fabrication of the tooth or teeth on the givenmulti-section infrastructure, so as to maintain these respective groovestotally open and clear along the entire respective groove length andwithin the transverse bores. This enables the Dentist in the finalformation of the dental prosthesis to place the respective buccalbuttress and lingual buttress in these respective buccal grooves andlingual grooves without interference in the preparation of further stepsfor fixing the dental prosthesis permanently in assembled position inthe patient's mouth.

These “shims” or “spacers” are used to prevent the buccal groove, thelingual groove and the transverse connecting pin bore or bores frombeing filled with the cement, composite or hard toothlike materials thatare used to build up the pontic or pontics during the formation andpreparation of the preliminary dental prosthesis with the replacementpontic or pontics thereon before it is moved from the stone cast modelinto the patient's mouth where it is assembled, fixed and finished toposition the replacement pontic or pontics in the associated edentulousspace.

The actual buccal and lingual buttresses for the given dental prosthesisbeing formed on the stone cast model of the edentulous space and theassociated tooth or teeth cannot be used on the stone cast model becausethey would be locked in by the cement or composite during theformulation of the pontic or pontics for the given dental prosthesis andeffectively the given dental prosthesis thus formed could not be removedfrom the stone cast model.

Thus, when the Dentist, dental assistant or lab technician is preparingthe preliminarily formed dental prosthesis which is removed from thestone cast model to fit it into assembled position in the edentulousspace in the patient's mouth these “shims” or “spacers” prevent cementor composite from filling the buccal and lingual grooves and transverseconnecting pin holes as the pontic or pontics are being created so thatwhen the “shims” or “spacers” are removed, the secondary supportingassembly defined by the buccal and lingual buttresses can be positionedin the main support bar or beam and attached into assembled position inthe supporting tooth or teeth in the patient's mouth in the same manneras was above described for the “in situ” formation of the dentalprosthesis. This will be better understood by reference to thedescription which follows.

Thus, for forming a dental prosthesis, for example, like the embodimentof the present invention shown at FIGS. 32 to 42 of the drawings,reference to which is shown by the same character numerals and is onlyby way of illustration and not limitations, FIGS. 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80and 81 show that the main support bar or beam 711 for this form of themulti-section infrastructure 710 in accordance with the invention hasoperatively associated with the respective buccal groove 717 and lingualgroove 718 a buccal shim 919 and a lingual shim 920 sized to fit intothe respective buccal groove 717 and lingual groove 718.

Lingual shim 920 is shaped and sized to form a running fit with thelingual groove 718 so that elongated orienting pins as at 921 a and 921b projecting generally normal from an inner edge 920 a on the lingualshim 920 will during assembly of the lingual shim 920 into the lingualgroove 718 slide into and through the transverse connecting pin bores724 and 725 in the enlarged shaped center section 714 of the mainsupport bar 711 of this multi-section infrastructure 710 for the dentalprosthesis in accordance with this form of the present invention andextend or project a substantial distance beyond the buccal side of theenlarged shaped center section 714 to receive the buccal shim thereon.

At the outer edge or side of the lingual shim 920, a shaped gripping orhandling tab 920 b is provided which projects laterally in a directionopposite from the orienting pins 921 a and 921 b. This laterallyprojecting gripping or handling tab is so sized that it can be easilygrasped and used for both setting the lingual shim 920 into assembledposition in the lingual groove 718 and for removing the lingual shim 920to expose the lingual groove 718 preparatory to moving the partiallyformed dental prosthesis from the stone cast model to the edentulousspace in the patient's mouth.

Similarly, buccal shim 919 has an inner edge 919 a and a grasping orhandling tab 919 b with matching bores as at 922 a and 922 b, alsoextending normal to the inner edge 9190 a for the buccal shim, so thebuccal shim can be grasped to fit the inner edge 920 a into the buccalgroove 717 and onto the projecting ends of the elongated orienting pins921 a and 921 b, all of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 75, 76, 77 and81 of the drawings.

When the enlarged shaped center section 714 is fitted with the lingualshim 920 and buccal shim 919 as above described, the preliminary formingof the dental prosthesis can now proceed on the stone cast modelexterior of the patient's mouth.

Prior to utilizing this technique for forming the dental prosthesis on astone cast model exterior of the patient's mouth, all the samepreliminary steps of preparing the supporting tooth or teeth adjacentthe edentulous space in the patient's mouth as above described for the“in situ” formation of the dental prosthesis are first followed. Thenthe following steps are continued:

2.1 After the occlusal grooves have been prepared in the anterior andposterior teeth adjacent to the edentulous space, in which the pontic orpontics needs to be replaced, an impression is taken of the edentulousspace and the adjacent supporting tooth or teeth with a rapid setpolysiloxane or similar material.

2.2 This impression is poured up at a point exterior of the patient'smouth by means of a fast set “grey rock” or plaster material to form thestone cast model of the support teeth and the edentulous space in whichthe tooth or teeth need to be replaced. One stone cast model so formedis shown at FIG. 78. It is similar to the teeth with an edentulous spaceas shown at FIG. 72 and thus shows edentulous space ES′ and the adjacentanterior tooth FT′ and posterior tooth ST′. This procedure is well knownin the dental profession and therefore is not more fully described.

2.3 This stone cast model is removed to a work station or dentallaboratory in the dental office where forming and fabricating of thedental prosthesis occurs. In this illustration, the embodiment of theinfrastructure shown at FIGS. 32 to 42 of the drawings will be usedagain to show how the stone cast model exterior of the patient's mouthis used for fabricating a dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention.

2.4 Thus, at the work station or laboratory exterior of the patient'smouth, the multi-section infrastructure for this embodiment of thedental prosthesis is preliminarily formulated by positioning and fittingthe legs or flanges 731 and 732 of the pontic clip 713 relative the mainsupport bar or beam 711 until the roughened inner surfaces of the sidewalls 733 and 734 are disposed in sliding engagement with the respectivegrooved or roughened inner surfaces as at 721 a and 722 a of the buccalgroove 721 and lingual groove 722 in the wide center section 714 of themain support bar or beam 711.

2.5 The assembled infrastructure is now positioned in the stone castmodel by sliding the main support bar or beam 711 generally downrelative the pontic clip 713 until the oppositely disposed connectingends 715 and 716 rest on the floor of the occlusal preparations in therespective spaced anterior tooth FT′ and posterior tooth ST′ in thestone cast model while base section 730 of the pontic clip 713 touchesthe equivalent gingival surface in the center portion of the edentulousspace ES′ between the spaced teeth FT′ and ST′ on the stone cast modelcorresponding to the gingival surface of the actual edentulous space inthe patient's mouth.

2.6 This positioning and orientation of the multi-section infrastructure710 for this form of the dental prosthesis is carefully adjusted andchecked, and then the main support bar or beam 711 and the pontic clip713 are bonded and cemented together with cyano-acrylic, dual curebonding resin or cement and joined at the joint formed between thegrooved or roughened buccal surface 721 a of the buccal vertical groove721 and grooved or roughened lingual surface 722 a of lingual verticalgroove 722 in the enlarged center section 714 of the main support bar orbeam 711 and the grooved or roughened inner walls 733 and 734 of thelegs 731 and 732 of the pontic clip 713, all of which is clearly shownby FIGS. 32, 33, 37, 43, 43A, 75, 76, 77 and 79 of the drawings.

2.7 Once these cemented joints have set, the assembled main supportingbar or beam 711 of this form of the multi-section infrastructure 710 canbe ground or otherwise adjusted to remove the excess projecting heightof the legs or flanges 731 and 732 of the pontic clip 713 until theocclusal surface of the wide center section 714 of the main support baror beam 711 and the upper ends of the legs 731 and 732 are generallyflush with each other.

2.8 In order to preliminarily form the pontic or pontics on thisassembly of the main support bar or beam 711 and the pontic clip 713,the two transverse bores 741 and 742, the buccal groove 717 and lingualgroove 718 are coated with a suitable thin oil such as mineral oil.

2.9 A lingual “shim” or “spacer” 919 with the spaced projectingorienting rods 921 a and 921 b now is tested and its mesial and distalextensions modified as may be necessary to fit through the transversebores 741 and 742 into the lingual groove 717 in the enlarged centersection of the main support bar or beam 711 so that it fits and engageswith the buccal shim or spacer 920 and is disposed in snug engagementwith the adjacent side of the pontic clip 713. Thus when the lingualshim 919 is positioned, the connecting rods 921 a and 921 b will extendthrough the connecting pin bores 922 a and 922 b, see FIGS. 75 and 76,from the lingual to the buccal side of the stone cast model, the inneredge of the lingual shim 919 will rest in the lingual groove so that theinner edge of the lingual “shim” lies external of the adjacent outerface of the pontic clip 713 and the respective opposite mesial-distalends will lie between the anterior tooth FT′ and posterior tooth ST′, asis clearly shown in FIG. 79.

2.10 At the buccal side of the stone cast model, the buccal “shim” 920is provided with spaced and longitudinally extending bores 922 a and 922b into which the projecting connecting rods 921 a and 921 b of thelingual “shim” 919 extend. The buccal shim 920 is adjusted mesially anddistally and also modified and placed so that in assembled position inthe buccal groove in the enlarged center section, it will fit onto theprojecting connecting rods 921 a and 921 b and over the adjacent outerbuccal face of the pontic clip 713 and will be between the anteriortooth FT′ and the posterior tooth ST′, as is also clearly shown in FIG.79.

2.11 Composite is now built up on the buccal and lingual sides of themain support bar or beam 711 until the tooth shape has beenpreliminarily developed above and below the respective lingual “shim”919 and buccal “shim” 920, going down to the equivalent ridge line onthe stone cast model and to the occlusal surface but not on it for thepontic in formation. The composite is then cured.

2.12 The buccal and lingual “shims” are now removed by the small handlesections 919 b and 920 b, first the lingual “shim” and then the buccal“shim” being removed. If the respective buccal and lingual “shims” aremade from a material to which composite will not stick; such as“TEFLON”, “DELRIN” or similar synthetic polymers of which there are manypurchasable on the open market; they will be removed easily from theirassembled position in the dental prosthesis being formed on the stonecast model, as is shown by FIG. 81 of the drawings.

2.13 This preliminarily formed pontic will now be removed from the stonecast model and highly polished before it is returned to the patient'smouth. FIG. 81 shows that this preliminary pontic has the general shapeof a tooth with the buccal groove 717 and lingual groove 718 exposed sothat the metal of the enlarged center section and the respective buccalexterior face and lingual exterior face of the pontic clip 713 will nowbe fully visible.

2.14 In the patient's mouth, the preliminary dental prosthesis ispositioned in the occlusal groves in the anterior tooth and posteriortooth adjacent to the edentulous space in the patient's mouth and themesial and distal ends of the respective buccal groove 717 and lingualgroove 718 are now used as guides to mark the exact position for theindentations on the respective buccal and lingual sides of themesial-proximal surface of the anterior tooth FT′ and the distalproximal surface on the posterior tooth ST′ in the patient's mouth, andthe Dentist with a suitable burr can now complete drilling of theindentations or dimples in these proximal surfaces to form indentationsapproximately 1.3 mm in width and 1.2 mm in depth. These indentationswill fall approximately 1.00 mm lateral to or slightly below and lateralto the occlusal groove preparation in the associated anterior orposterior tooth adjacent the edentulous space in the patient's mouth.

2.15 The occlusal grooves in the occlusal surfaces, the indentations inthe proximal surfaces, and the anterior and posterior teeth adjacent theedentulous space in the patient's mouth are now properly etched, washedand dried, and this entire area in the patient's mouth isolated fromsaliva. Then the prepared tooth surfaces are lightly moistened withwater spray, primed with appropriate primers and resins and thus madeready for the dual cure bonding or any other appropriate cements thatset chemically so the occlusal grooves, indentations and proximal of theadjacent tooth or teeth can now have the dental prosthesis cemented intoassembled position.

2.16 Next, in order to prepare the respective anterior and posteriorteeth in the patient's mouth to receive the dental prosthesis, compositematerial is placed so that it fills the bottom half of the respectiveocclusal preparations in these teeth. A dual cure composite or a dualcure combined with a glass monomer or any other state-of-the-art artcement or bonding material is used so that the composite under the beamnot reached by light curing will be fully set by chemical cure.

2.17 Now the pre-formed dental prosthesis is placed into these partiallyfilled occlusal preparations and pushed down onto the floor of thepreparation being careful to avoid any excess materials from gettingonto the linguo-proximal indentations and bucco-proximal indentations sothere will be no problem in setting the respective lingual and buccalbuttresses into assembled position.

2.18 After the preformed dental prosthesis is placed in the cementingcomposite or similar cementing/bonding material in the occlusal groovepreparations in the anterior and posterior teeth adjacent the edentulousspace in the patient's mouth and cured in position, the lingual groovein the dental prosthesis is painted with primer and bonding resin whichis also cured and the lingual buttress 719 tested by slipping it in andout of assembled position. If it slides properly into assembledposition, the lingual buttress 719 will insert fully into the lingualgroove 717 and the respective mesial and distal ends of the lingualbuttress will rest in the linguo-proximal indentations in the anteriorand posterior teeth adjacent to the edentulous space in the patient'smouth.

2.19 The lingual buttress is now removed, a small amount of primer andresin is placed in the associated indentations for the respective endsof the lingual buttress on the adjacent linguo-proximal surfaces of theanterior and posterior teeth, the bonding resin cured and the lingualbuttress primed and coated with dual cure bonding cement or similarcementing material. The lingual buttress 719 is now positioned intoassembled position so that the connecting rods 725 and 726 extendthrough the enlarged center section 714 from the lingual side to theexterior of the buccal groove 718 for at least several mm, and thelingual buttress snugly engages the lingual groove 717 and the adjacentface of the leg of the pontic clip 713. Embrasures are then cleared ofcomposite so as not to block interdental hygiene, and the entireassembly on the lingual side of the dental prosthesis is either UV lightor chemically cured.

2.20 The same steps above outlined for the lingual buttress are nowfollowed for the buccal buttress, and the entire buccal side of thedental prosthesis is then UV light or chemically cured to lockeverything into assembled position. The extending ends of the connectingrods 726 and 727 can now be trimmed flush with the exterior buccal faceof the buccal buttress.

2.21 Any residual openings still left on the lingual or buccal side ofthe preformed pontic are now filled in with composite and enoughcomposite added to bring the lingual and buccal surfaces of thepreformed pontic to their normal convexity. This is cured, carved andpolished, as needed.

2.22 To complete the dental prosthesis, the visible occlusal surfaces ofthe anterior and posterior connecting ends 715 and 716 are first coatedwith an opaque resin. Then over these connecting ends 715 and 716, therespective occlusal surfaces of the adjacent teeth and the pontic unit,a final coat of composite material, reinforced if desired, is added, andthis last strip of composite material is covered with a thin sheet offlexible clear plastic about 0.001″ thick, such as polyethylene or“SARAN” wrap, and the patient is requested to close fully and then openquickly. The uncured composite material now has an exact imprint of thecusps of the opposing teeth and is cured with ultraviolet light until itis fully hardened.

2.23 A conventional bite test with thin bite paper can then be used sothat excess composite material can be removed and the patient's biteadjusted. And finally when the bite is adjusted, the dental prosthesiscan again be polished in the patient's mouth.

2.24 If desired, it is possible to custom stain and glaze for a desiredcolor effect or to match the color of existing teeth in the patient'smouth. For this purpose there are various preparations readily availableon the open market which can be used in accordance with the instructionsfor such preparations.

Where one pontic has been referred to, those skilled in the art willreadily recognize that a dental prosthesis with more than one pontic canbe formed or fabricated by increasing the dimensions of the main supportbar or beam for any of the illustrated embodiments of the multi-sectioninfrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis in accordance with thepresent invention without departing from the scope and spirit of thepresent invention.

Additionally, while the wide main support bar or beam in some of theembodiments has been illustrated as having a modified curve or archwhich drops below the horizontal plane of the connecting ends for therespective main support bars or beams, those skilled in the art willreadily recognize that this occurs because the edentulous spacesillustrated are in the lower posterior teeth of the patient's mouth.Conversely, if the edentulous space were illustrated in the upper teethof the patient's mouth, then the wide occlusal surface of the centersection would be above the horizontal plane for the connecting ends forthe main support bars or beams of any illustrated one of theembodiments. Other main support bars or beams, especially for bicuspidteeth tend to have a flat occlusal surface on the main support sectionwhich also may lie below the plane of the connecting ends for the mainsupport bar. Last, the main support bars in the illustrated embodimentsare illustrated with occlusal surfaces having hollowed concave orindented depressions. These as above described serve to increase thethickness of the composite material on the occlusal face of the dentalprosthesis formed for the purposes and objects as described.

Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that thepresent invention is not limited to those specific embodiments, and thatvarious changes and modifications can be effected therein by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Multi-section infrastructure for a dentalprosthesis for forming at least one pontic to fill an edentulous spacein the teeth in a patient's mouth comprising: a. main support means forsupporting the dental prosthesis having, an enlarged center section, andrelatively narrow connecting means connected to at least one end of saidenlarged center section to enable the main support means to be connectedin assembled position to the patient's teeth relative the edentulousspace, b. said enlarged center section having, an occlusal surface, c.means defining a depression in the occlusal surface of the enlargedcenter section to permit build-up of composite on said occlusal surfaceduring the formation of the at least one pontic on the dentalprosthesis, and d. said enlarged center section is wider at the medialsection and narrower at the respective opposite ends to accommodate forvariations on the proximals of the patient's teeth disposed relative theedentulous space.
 2. In the multi-section infrastructure for a dentalprosthesis as in claim 1 wherein the enlarged center section is unevenmesial-distally, being wider at one end than at the opposite end.
 3. Inthe multi-section infrastructure for a dental prosthesis in claim 1wherein the enlarged center section is trapezoidal in mesial-distal planview being narrower at the anterior end than at the posterior end of theenlarged center section.
 4. Multi-section infrastructure for a dentalprosthesis for forming at least one pontic to fill an edentulous spacein the teeth of a patient's mouth comprising: a. main support means forsupporting the dental prosthesis to be connected in assembled positionto at least one of the patient's teeth relative the edentulous spacehaving occlusal surface means, and b. generally U-shaped meansadjustably connectable to the main support means for adjusting theposition of the occlusal surface of the main support means relative thegingival surface of the edentulous space.
 5. A dental prosthesis forreplacing at least one tooth in an edentulous space in the teeth in apatient's mouth comprising: a. main support means for supporting thedental prosthesis having, a relatively wide center section, and at leastone connecting end, b. U-shaped means adjustably mounted on said widecenter section of main support means for adjusting the positions of saidmain support means in assembled positions in the edentulous space, andc. means for fixedly connecting the U-shaped means to said wide centersection in the adjusted position.
 6. In the dental prosthesis in claim 5wherein the means for fixedly connecting the U-shaped means in adjustedposition is a cement means from the group of cyano-acrylates.
 7. In thedental prosthesis in claim 5 wherein the means for fixably connectingthe U-shaped means in adjusted position is a dual cure partly filledchemically set composite.
 8. In the dental prosthesis in claim 5 whereinthe means for fixedly connecting the U-shaped means in adjusted positionis a chemically set bonding adhesive.
 9. A dental prosthesis forreplacing at least one tooth in an edentulous space in a patient's mouthcomprising: a. main support means for supporting the dental prosthesishaving, a wide center section, and relatively narrow connecting endmeans connected at one end to said wide center section, b. said widecenter section having an arcuate shape to form generally a depressionsection in the wide center section, c. generally U-shaped meansadjustably mounted on said wide center section of the main support meansfor adjusting the position of said main support means in assembledposition in the edentulous space, d. means for fixedly connecting theU-shaped means to said wide center section in the adjusted position, ande. means forming at least one pontic about said wide center section andthe U-shaped means, disposed in assembled position in said edentulousspace.
 10. In the dental prosthesis in claim 9 wherein: a. the widecenter section has generally spaced flat sides on the buccal and lingualfaces thereof, b. the U-shaped means is disposed on the wide centersection in engagement with said flat buccal and lingual sides, and c.the means for fixedly connecting the U-shaped pontic clip means to theflat buccal and lingual side edges is a suitable cement means.
 11. Inthe dental prosthesis in claim 10 wherein the cement means is from thegroup of cyano-acrylates, dual cure partly filled chemically setcomposite and chemically set bonding adhesives.
 12. A dental prosthesisfor replacing at least one tooth in an edentulous space in a patient'smouth comprising: a. main support means for supporting the dentalprosthesis having, a wide center section with an occlusal surface andrelatively narrow connecting end means connected to at least one end ofsaid wide center section, b. said wide center section having an indentedsection to provide a generally shaped depression for increasing thethickness of composite disposed thereon during the formation of thereplacement tooth, c. secondary support means to limit the adverseeffect of torque forces on the replacement tooth connected to the widecenter section, d. generally U-shaped means adjustably mounted on saidwide center section of the main support means for adjusting the positionof the occlusal surface on said main support means in assembled positionin the edentulous space, e. means for fixedly connecting the U-shapedmeans to said wide center section in the adjusted position, and f. meansforming at least one replacement tooth about said wide center sectionand the U-shaped means of the dental prosthesis.
 13. In the dentalprosthesis in claim 9 or 12 wherein the wide center section is uneven inplan view.
 14. In the dental prosthesis in claim 9 or 12 wherein thewide center section has a trapezoidal shape in plan view and is sized tofit the edentulous space.
 15. In the dental prosthesis in claim 12wherein the U-shaped means positions the occlusal surface of the mainsupport means and is operatively associated with the secondary supportmeans.
 16. In the method of fabricating a dental prosthesis on a castmodel of an edentulous space and at least one of the adjacent teethprepared with occlusal mounting grooves from the given patient's mouth,the steps of: a. assembling a main support means having a relativelywide center section and at least one relatively narrow connecting endfor supporting the dental prosthesis in said edentulous space with aU-shaped means having a base means so that the U-shaped means is insliding engagement with the wide center section of the main supportmeans for adjusting the position of said main support means in assembledposition in the edentulous space, b. fitting the assembled main supportmeans and U-shaped means into position on said cast model so that the atleast one connecting end on the wide center section sits in the occlusalmounting grooves in at least one of the adjacent teeth and the U-shapedmeans and extends into the equivalent edentulous space on the stone castmodel, c. adjusting the U-shaped means in the cast model until the basemeans thereon touches the surface of the equivalent edentulous space inthe stone cast model, d. fixedly connecting the U-shaped means inassembled position on the main support means, and e. forming at leastone pontic about the wide arcuate center section of the main supportmeans and the coacting U-shaped means.
 17. In the method for forming adental prosthesis with at least one pontic for replacing at least onemissing tooth in an edentulous space in a given patient's mouth, thesteps of: a. preparing the teeth in the given patient's mouth adjacentto the edentulous space by cutting sized and shaped grooves in theocclusal surface thereof, b. making a cast model to duplicate theedentulous space and adjacent teeth for use exterior of the patient'smouth, c. assembling in the cast model a multi-section infrastructurehaving, a main support bar of the desired average length with connectingend means, a buccal groove, a lingual groove and a transverse boreextending end to end therethrough, and centering the main support bar inthe edentulous space by adjusting at least one of the connecting endmeans to fit the sized and shaped grooves in the occlusal surface of theat least one of the teeth adjacent to the edentulous space, d. insertingremovable shims in the main support bar to block out the buccal andlingual grooves, e. preliminarily fitting, fabricating, trimming, andfinishing in the said cast model a dental prosthesis with at least onepontic replacement thereon, f. removing the dental prosthesis from thecast model and fitting buccal and lingual buttresses into assembledposition trimming and finishing the dental prosthesis “in situ” in theteeth adjacent to and in the edentulous space in the patient's mouth sothat the at least one pontic fits in and replaces the missing at leastone tooth in the edentulous space, g. layering and bonding finishingmaterials on the formed pontic, and h. adjusting the dental prosthesis“in situ” for bite and cementing the dental prosthesis in assembledposition in the occlusal grooves in the prepared teeth in the patient'smouth.
 18. A U-shaped member made from a malleable material for use inmulti-section infrastructures for forming a dental prosthesis to fill anedentulous space in a patient's mouth comprising: a. base means, and b.spaced leg means connected to opposite sides of said base means foroperative association with the gum line in the edentulous space and foradjusting the multi-section infrastructures in assembled position in theedentulous space.
 19. A U-shaped means as claimed in claim 18 whereinthe base means is made from a material that can be polished.
 20. AU-shaped means as claimed in claim 18 wherein the base means is sizedand shaped for use as a function of the average shape of the gum linefor the edentulous space.
 21. A U-shaped means as claimed in claim 18wherein the base means can be altered to fit asymmetrically shapedgingiva for a given edentulous space.
 22. A U-shaped means as claimed inclaim 18 wherein the spaced leg means includes: a. first leg meansconnected to one side of the base means, b. second leg means connectedto the other side of the base means, and c. said first leg means andsecond leg means scored to aid in assembling the U-shaped means to theother elements of the multi-section infrastructure.
 23. In combinationwith the multi-section infrastructure for forming the dental prosthesis,said multi-section infrastructure including, a. main support means forthe dental prosthesis having a center section, b. a first groove meanson the lingual side of the center section, and a second groove means onthe buccal side of the center section, of a fixture comprising: i. afirst removable shim member for operative connection into the firstgroove, ii. a second removable shim member for operative connection intothe second groove, and iii. means for aligning the first removable shimmember and second removable shim member in assembled position to permitthe dental prosthesis to be formed about the multi-sectioninfrastructure.
 24. The combination with the multi-sectioninfrastructure for forming a dental prosthesis in claim 23 including,means to enable the first removable shim member and second removableshim member to be removed from assembled position after the pontic hasbeen preliminarily formed on the dental prosthesis.